Let me tell you about the night I was nearly raped... and why, like thousands of other women, I didn't report it

Let me tell you about the night I was very nearly raped. It was winter, three years ago, and it happened at the flat of a friend called John. John and I had gone out to meet a group of his mates from university in a pub in Central London. It was an ordinary December night; the pub smelt of stale beer and cigarette smoke.

At some point, a vague acquaintance of one of John's friends joined our group. His name was Michael. He was younger than me - about 24 - small and skinny.

When it got to chucking-out time, we decided to go to a cafe in East London for a late supper. Michael asked if he could come and we thought it was strange but we were too polite to say no.

I remember he was manipulative - he tried to be very charming but there was something very creepy about him