‘Overwhelmed’ victim of lotto rapist Iorworth Hoare receives MBE from Queen

Shirley Woodman, 82, said she was overwhelmed to have received the honour at Buckingham Palace today.

The retired teacher was known only as Mrs A for 24 years after she was attacked by Hoare in Roundhay Park, Leeds, in 1988.

He was jailed for life the following year for the attempted rape of Mrs Woodman, but scooped £7.2 million in 2004 when he bought a Lotto Extra ticket while on day release from prison.

Mrs Woodman sued Hoare for damages when she heard of his win but he argued that victims of sex attacks must make their claims within six years.

In 2008, Mrs Woodman won a groundbreaking ruling from the Law Lords that, in cases of serious assault, courts would have the discretion to extend that limit.

She was later awarded compensation in an out-of-court settlement with Hoare, who had previous convictions for rape, two other attempted rapes and three indecent assaults when he attacked her.

Speaking after receiving her MBE today, Mrs Woodman said: “It’s a totally unsuspecting end to what was a very sad incident.”

She said she decided to waive her anonymity after being awarded the honour for services to the community in Yorkshire in the 2012 Queen’s New Year Honours.

“Having been anonymous for 24 years it was difficult to first waive my anonymity, but I had to do it in order to get the MBE,” she said.

“I couldn’t believe it at first, I thought it was a mistake when I got the letter. I had no idea what was going on behind my back.

“I am overjoyed that in the twilight of my life I find myself in this position.

“I was just an ordinary person who happened to be attacked and he chose the wrong person.

“When he was released and won that enormous amount of money, it was the kind of story you couldn’t make up. I didn’t want the money, but felt something had to be done.”

She said she was getting used to people knowing who she was.

“It was very difficult to find my photograph being displayed but I know the only reason I waived my anonymity is because I was being awarded for something which had taken all that time to achieve which was changing the law.

“I would not have revealed myself had the letter about the MBE not come.”

She said her daughter, Shelley Wolfson, had urged her to be recognised while she was still alive, rather than posthumously.

She said despite her award being for services to the community in Yorkshire, the Queen had known her story.

“She said ‘I hear you have had a hard time.’

“I said ‘Ah, you know about it, us changing the law.’

“She said ‘Yes, it’s very difficult to change the law.’”

Mrs Woodman has donated her money to charity.

Her 55-year-old daughter said she was over the moon.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic, I am so proud of her,” said Miss Wolfson.

“She needs to be recognised while she is alive, I think it’s important.”

She agreed that the award spelled the end of years of anonymity and helped draw a line under it.

“We don’t have to keep quiet any more. People can ask if they like, but they don’t tend to, they just acknowledge it very quietly and with dignity.”