RAPE victims feel let down by the justice system in Scotland even if the accused criminal goes to jail, a study has found.

Researchers from the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR) interviewed 17 people who reported allegations of rape or serious sexual assault and found that none of them felt justice had been achieved.

The victims argued that the time taken by the justice system, administrative errors and poor communication from the police and courts led to a negative feeling about the handling of their cases.

While some participants in the study praised the Scottish advocacy services, the report found there was a “considerable gap” among those who report sexual violence between their expectations of the criminal justice system and their experience of it.

One woman interviewed described the process as “three years of re-traumatisation,” while another said she “didn’t know how to live for 18 months.”

University of Glasgow academic and report co-author Dr Oona Brooks-Hay said she hoped the findings will make the justice system address concerns around how complainants are informed, supported and represented.

She said: “There is a pressing need to look at how the criminal justice process can be reformed to meet the needs of victim-survivors who have had the courage to engage with the system.

“More radical change, such as the introduction of independent legal representation in serious sexual offence cases, must be given serious consideration.

“Sexual offences have profound and distinctive impacts, and therefore merit distinctive responses.”

Scotland’s Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said £1 million in Scottish government funding has been put towards facilities in Glasgow for vulnerable witnesses to give evidence.