A BRIT mum whose own dad was locked up accused of raping her on holiday isle Crete says she “can’t wait to give him a big hug”.
Tammi Forsythe, 33, celebrated the “best day of my life” yesterday after dad Philip was finally cleared by DNA evidence.
Philip, 62, was held in a Greek jail for almost four weeks but was expected to be released last night.
Father and daughter hope to return home to Hull as soon as possible following their a nightmare ordeal.
“Words cannot describe how happy we both are and that it’s finally over and we can get back home with the family,” Tammi told MailOnline.
“This is wonderful news, one of the best days of my life. I’ve spoken to him briefly on the phone but he then had to get his belongings together for his release.
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“The first thing I will do when I see my dad is give him a big hug.”
She said Greek cops – who she accused of bungling the investigation – did not bother to tell her her dad was in the clear.
And she added: “When we are ready we will speak fully about what happened to save other British families from having to go through the horrendous injustice that we have suffered.”
Tammi had waived her anonymity to protest her dad’s innocence, saying “the world needs to know” how they had been treated.
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The mum of four was raped after a night drinking at a bar in Malia on June 9.
She said she fell in an alley on the way back to her hotel and woke to see a stranger standing over her.
“He grabbed me by my legs, dragged me into a bush and raped me,” she previously said.
“I was left stunned by the whole thing and after it happened, I could not move for about 15 minutes because I was too scared.”
She went back to the hotel and reported the attack to the British Consulate and then Greek police.
But the nightmare got worse when Philip was arrested two days later.
Tammi believes officers “completely misunderstood” her account of the attack and her description of the rapist.
She said: “I told them that my father was wearing all white, but they took that to mean that the attacker was wearing all white.
“The police made up their minds from the start that my father was guilty and have not done anything about finding the real rapist.”
‘Horror movie’
Tammi said Philip was in a “terrible state psychologically” in custody, and she was left alone while suffering her own trauma – and suspected pregnancy.
She said: “This holiday has turned into a horror movie.
“I’m really suffering with stress and anxiety which has only got worse because I’m feeling a bit sick and have missed my period. I’m usually very regular and it’s not like me.
“I’ve been told by the British Consulate that I need to go to a medical clinic to have a blood test, but I’ve been suffering from such bad panic attacks that I need someone to accompany me.
“But I’m here on my own and have got nobody to help me.”
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Finally yesterday Philip was told his DNA does not match a sample from Tammi’s clothes.
Police in Hersonissos, the nearest town to Malia, said “justice had spoken”.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
