Death leap of girl who said police doubted her rape claim

Sara Clark's parents, Amanda and Howell, said the normally bubbly 18-year-old became depressed when officers failed to keep a promise to visit her the day after she reported the attack.

"If only they had spoken to her she would be alive today,2 said Mrs Clark, 44.

Hampshire Police insisted last night, however, that they had been treating the case seriously and an investigation was in progress.

Scroll down for more...

Mr Clark, 50, a computer engineer, said his daughter was raped near the family home in the early hours of Wednesday as she returned from a night out with friends.

He said she was walking alone past a recreation ground when a man grabbed her from behind before sexually assaulting her.

She immediately alerted police in a 999 call from the scene and was interviewed at nearby Totton police station.

She was then taken to a sexual assault referral centre for medical tests and more interviews, with her mother present to support her.

These were followed by further blood tests before she was interviewed at home by two detectives.

Mrs Clark said her daughter "was getting depressed and low" as she waited for the police to call again.

"They promised to come back to her the next day," she said. "They didn't."

Mrs Clark described Sara as "a happy

bubbly person", although she said she had been suffering from depression for some time following a split from her boyfriend.

She left the family home in Calmore, near Southampton, at about 3am on Saturday after loading her new iPod with songs and using an online messaging service on her computer.

Her body was found below the footbridge on the nearby M27 motorway by a lorry driver at around 3.50am.

Later that morning Mr Clark heard of the tragedy on the radio news.

Worried that the description of the victim matched his daughter, he went to her bedroom and found it empty.

Sara left no note but her father believes she killed herself because she felt police did not believe her story of the attack.

He said he had no doubt his daughter had been raped.

"Evidently she felt she wasn't being believed or was being ignored.

"She probably had the feeling that nobody cared about her."

Hampshire Police insisted last night they had taken the rape allegation seriously. Detective Inspector Kath Barnes said: "We wish to reassure them that her allegations were taken seriously as are any reports of this nature.

"We can confirm that she made an allegation of sexual assault to us in the early hours of Wednesday May 30 and patrol officers were deployed immediately."

Mr Barnes said they had cordoned off the scene and carried out forensic examinations as well as calling in specialist investigators to talk to Sara.

"Sara was further seen by detectives later the same day to discuss the investigation," she added.

Mr Barnes said that, as police were already involved, the case has been reported to the Independent Police Complaints Commission "as a matter of routine".

The commission had begun an investigation of Sara's death and the handling of her allegation that she had been attacked.

The force's official spokesman, Avril MacDonald, said: "We are unable to comment further at this time, but welcome any objective and independent review as we wish to be transparent and open about our actions.

"Hampshire Constabulary send their sincere condolences to Sara Clark's family and friends during this very difficult time."