A Brighton-based rape crisis charity has agreed to establish support groups exclusively for biological women after a four-year legal challenge by a sexual assault survivor.

The settlement with Survivors' Network marks a significant shift in policy for the organisation, which previously refused to provide female-only spaces for victims of sexual violence.

A 44-year-old victim established legal proceedings after experiencing distress when a trans woman joined her therapy group in 2021.

The financial services worker had sought help from the charity to address childhood sexual abuse she suffered from age 12 and a rape in her 20s.

Her victory ensures female survivors in Sussex will now have access to single-sex support services.

When the 44-year-old victim initially contacted the charity in early 2021, she underwent a telephone assessment that focused on her gender identity and pronouns rather than her traumatic experiences.

She attended her first meeting believing it would be a women-only environment, where victims discussed the importance of spaces free from men to speak openly about male violence.

However, upon returning after a two-month absence, she discovered a trans woman had joined the group.

The 44-year-old woman went through a four-year legal fight

"None of the women made eye contact, they seemed unsure of themselves, and the atmosphere was tense," the 44-year-old victim recalls.

The presence of a male voice triggered severe panic and nausea, causing her to experience flashbacks to childhood abuse.

Her GP later diagnosed this reaction as a PTSD response.

The 44-year-old victim requested a single-sex provision from the charity but was offered only individual counselling with a two-year waiting list.

After being denied female-only support, she approached media outlets in late 2021 to highlight the absence of single-sex rape crisis therapy in Sussex.

The charity responded by accusing her of breaching group confidentiality and removing her from all mailing lists, despite her not revealing any personal details.

"I was blocked not just on social media, they said, you can't come to the group support anymore," the 44-year-old victim explains.

She established a crowdfunding campaign to finance legal action, despite never wanting to sue a rape crisis service.

England, East Sussex

During proceedings, trans activists discovered her identity and sent hate mail to her partner's workplace.

The July settlement requires Survivors' Network to establish a peer support group specifically for biological women, with the charity stating it is "proud to be providing" this new service.

"I got a private apology and a commitment to put the past behind them, so that felt OK," the 44-year-old victim says, praising the organisation's new leadership under co-chairman Bec Davison.

Despite her satisfaction with the outcome, the 44-year-old victim believes one group remains insufficient for the numerous women requiring single-sex support who currently avoid the service.

She plans to collaborate with psychotherapists to create therapeutic retreats for survivors, drawing inspiration from Edinburgh's Beira's Place, the women-only service established by JK Rowling in 2022.