DEMONSTRATORS gathered outside the court to show their support for the British woman accused of making up a sex attack in Ayia Napa.

The 21-year-old student from Derby was found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus, but she hopes to have her conviction overturned.

The woman was handed a suspended four-month jail term last year by a judge who found her guilty of public mischief following a trial.

She told a court how she had been gang-raped by up to 12 men – some of whom filmed the attack – in a case that made headlines around the world.

An appeal will be heard at the country's Supreme Court today. 

Meanwhile,demonstrators gathered outside the court to show their support.

Holding banners they chanted “Cyprus justice shame on you” and “the English woman is one of us.”

Others held a banner that said “I believe her” and “End rape culture”. 

Campaigners say they hope the British-born judge Persefoni Panayi, will take “a less prejudiced” approach.

“She is desperate to clear her name,” top human rights lawyer Nicoletta Charalambidi said.

As he arrived for the case her lawyer Lewis Power QC said: "She is upbeat and determined to get on with her life and her university career.

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"She and her mother are anxious about the result and will be watching from afar.

"This young woman’s story has reverberated around the world since it hit the headlines in 2019. 

"It has been both shocking and distressing and has for her been deeply harrowing, humiliating, and personally intrusive, yet she has risen above this with grit and determination and has courageously resolved to fight this case to the end where she believes that justice will be done. 

"We also believe that ultimately justice will be achieved through careful scrutiny of both evidence and adherence to the rule of law. 

"Today though we hope the Supreme Court of Cyprus this girl can free herself from the shackles of an unjust conviction which has tarnished her young life."

COURT APPEAL

Barrister Michael Polak QC, of Justice Abroad,added: "We believe there were predetermined issues in the case by the trial judge who kept shouting during our submissions.

"The original court failed to take into account any of our expert evidence and the fact the girl was clearly suffering from PTSD when she was being questioned by the police.

"Our pathologist had evidence to show the girl had injuries to substantiate a rape took place but none of this evidence was considered by the original court.

"This is undoubtedly the biggest case in Cyprus legal history in the last ten days. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the whole world will be watching and it will be a beacon for women."

If the appeal fails, the lawyers plan to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

But the lawyer representing the gang she claims attacked her claims she has been "wasting the court's time."

Speaking exclusively to The Sun Tel Aviv based lawyer Nir Yazlovitzh, said: "This girl is wasting the court's time and she is wasting her time.

"She knows what happened that night in the hotel and the court convicted her of making it up.

"She should atone and instead apologise to the boys for accusing them of doing something she did not do. It's absolute bullshit that she is appealing this case.

"She has no chance at all and we strongly believe the Supreme Court will uphold the original conviction, then finally we can all get on with our lives and move on.

"The first hearing decided on the evidence they heard and she had a fair trial, they decided they didn't believe her and she was convicted.

"They were convicted for many reasons and to say the judge was prejudiced as I have read is nonsense.

"The Supreme Court will not change the ruling, the girl has no credibility."

The boys are relaxed and are comfortable, they are getting on with their national service and they know they have done nothing wrong."

The woman told police she was attacked by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17, 2020.

But she was charged after signing a retraction statement 10 days later.

Now a 21-year-old university student, the woman has maintained she was pressured by officers to withdraw the rape allegation.

She has vowed to clear her name, having flown home from the holiday island hours after being sentenced.

The 12 Israeli young men and boys, aged between 15 and 20 at the time, were arrested over the incident denied any wrongdoing, were freed, and returned home.

It comes after The Sun revealed the woman was given the go-ahead to appeal her conviction.

She was given a suspended four-month jail sentence despite giving harrowing evidence of her horrific ordeal.

How you can get help

Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:

• Always keep your phone nearby.
• Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
• If you are in danger, call 999.
• Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, where you call 999 and press ‘55’ if you can’t safely speak.
• Always keep some money or a bank card on you, including change in case you need a pay phone or bus fare.
• If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to move towards an exit if you are inside the house and get your phone in case you need to call for help.
• Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other potential weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom.

Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available every day from 10am-6pm or email [email protected]

SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support ­service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].

You can also call the freephone 24-hour ­National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

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