A TEENAGE assault victim, who aims to pursue a career as a police officer, says meeting her attacker has helped her move forward from the incident.

The 18-year-old woman, from the Bradford district, who only wants to be identified as Elizabeth, took part in restorative justice, which voluntarily brings together victims of crime with the perpetrators.

The process enables victims to ask the criminals why they offended against them and give the offenders an insight into the impact the crime has had - helping the victim to get closure.

The Bradford Neighbourhood Resolution Project, which has received national recognition for its work, has been used in a range of crimes, from assault, anti social behaviour and hate crime to damage, fraud, family disputes and historical sexual abuse.

Elizabeth was assaulted at a music festival in the summer of 2015.

"I had gone with a group of friends, it was my first festival," she recalled. "It was due to last three days, but I had only been there for a day when it happened.

"I was on the main walkway in broad daylight. I suddenly saw this guy jump out from the right. Before I could do anything he just punched me on the right side of my temple, knocking me to the ground.

"I was laid on the floor and was unconscious for a couple of seconds. Lots of people were running over to me. I was unsure what had happened. I tried to jump to my feet and was staggering around."

Elizabeth was taken to the medical centre. She said: "I heard a commotion. It was the attacker. He had also been brought down to the medical centre. He was fighting with everyone and was causing such a fuss he had to be sedated. I didn't know him, I had never seen him before."

The young man was arrested for breach of the peace. Elizabeth took a taxi home. She suffered bruising to her face and was badly shaken up. The following day, police took a statement and photographs of her injuries. Her attacker was cautioned, as police felt they had insufficient evidence to prosecute.

Elizabeth said: "I was really angry about it. My dad had heard something about restorative justice and thought it might be a suitable course of action to follow.

"I was unsure at first about meeting the person who had done it. He was also unsure he wanted to meet me. But the Restorative Justice co-ordinator explained what would happen."

She said she was nervous about going in to the meeting, held at a children's centre, six months after the assault.

Elizabeth said: "But I felt safe in the environment. When I walked into the room he put his hand out and shook my hand. I was happy to do that and felt more comfortable straight away. I wasn't expecting that."

The young man was not much older than Elizabeth. He had taken drugs as a one off at the festival and had a bad experience.

"He struggled to look at me at first. He had no-one there for him. I felt more sympathetic towards him than I thought I would.

"He was looking for me to fill in the gaps in his recollection of the event. I helped him to understand what had happened and he helped me understand why it happened.

"The meeting lasted about two hours and I was glad I had done it. I felt I had gained something from it and he wasn't this big scary monster. I think he got to understand the real impact of what he had done and was very sorry. He had been having flashbacks and it helped him to talk about it.

"He made it clear that wasn't him. He felt very remorseful and wouldn't be doing those drugs again."

Elizabeth is taking a college course and aims to become a police officer.

She added: "I think restorative justice has helped me towards that. It closed that chapter of my life and I would recommend it to other victims."

Barbara Szuszko, restorative justice volunteer co-ordinator for Bradford Safer Communities, said: "Being able to facilitate a meeting between a person who has been harmed and the person causing the harm is very impactive.

"Again and again victims have said to me that they have felt that a weight has been lifted from them when they have met with the harmer and have been able to have a conversation about what has happened to them."