Student was raped at New Year's after 'drink spiked' during midnight countdown

A university student was raped on New Year's by a violent predator as police believe she had her drink spiked during the midnight countdown.

Melody Maxwell, 19, was subjected to a 50-minute attack by monster Obi Forgive while out partying with friends in her hometown, Northampton.

She has no recollection of the horror attack and says the last thing she remembers from the nightmare evening was taking a sip of prosecco.

Melody had to undergo forensic tests after CCTV showed her leaving a pub with an unknown man.

The teen says officers believe she was spiked and after the ordeal has vowed: "I'll never celebrate New Year again."

Horrifically, after the assault, Forgive returned to the streets to hunt for further victims.

In June 2019, Forgive was jailed for 11 years for the rape against Melody.

Waiving her right to anonymity, the genetics student says: "Officers think I was spiked as I have no memory of the night.

"I'm glad that I can't remember what happened.

"I don't want to be a victim, instead I want to show that you can move on from such a horrific attack."

On Christmas Day 2018, Melody's mum Jamie, 38, a receptionist, revealed she was taking her daughter to Paris in January 2019 as her Christmas present.

Melody says: "I'd always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum."

Days later on New Year's Eve, Melody was getting ready to go out with her mates in Northampton.

After a few months of studying hard at the University of Manchester, Melody was looking forward to letting her hair down in her hometown.

Melody says: "We headed to a pub in a taxi and I texted Mum to let her know where we were going.

"She replied telling me to stay safe.

"Minutes later, I was drinking vodka and coke while singing along to Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas is you.

"Suddenly it was the midnight countdown.

"My friends passed around a bottle of prosecco and I took a swig of it.

"That's the last thing I remember."

Hours later, Melody found herself in her mum's car with a blanket around her shoulders and her knickers around her ankles.

Her purse, bag and phone had disappeared.

The dashboard clock revealed it was 5am. Melody had lost five hours of her life.

She says: "I was panicked. Mum revealed that the police had found me stumbling around and shouting for help, and they called her.

"But I had no recollection of where I'd been.

"At the police station, I handed in my sparkly silver dress I'd bought especially for New Year's as well as my underwear.

"Then I gave a statement, but I couldn't give the officers any information.

"Back at home, I slept most of New Year's Day."

The following morning, Melody was called by a detective who suggested she undergo a forensic test.

At first, Melody refused, just wanting to put the night behind her.

Then she found a huge bruise on her thigh and her groin was sore.

She says: "I called the detective back and, an hour later, I was having blood tests at Northampton General Hospital.

"That day, officers confirmed that I'd been sexually assaulted and that my drink might have been spiked.

"They had also found my phone and bag, and were investigating.

"A week later, police discovered CCTV footage of me leaving the pub with an unknown man.

"He'd led me to a grassy area behind the pub and then returned alone an hour later."

Detectives shared an image of him in the local newspaper, hoping to identify him.

A week later, officers arrested a man after the pub bouncer had recognised him.

Melody says: "While I waited for the man to appear in court, I went to Paris with my mum.

"But I couldn't enjoy the trip as it was tainted with the knowledge of my attack.

"And it wasn't easy going back to university, I found it difficult to focus in lectures and some days I could barely get out of bed.

"But I worked as hard as I could and got high grades in my exams."

In June 2019, Obi Forgive, 28, of London, appeared at Northampton Crown Court and denied raping Melody.

Investigators told the court that Forgive had searched for women who were drunk and that Melody had likely undergone a 50-minute attack.

Forgive had tried to conceal evidence of his actions by changing his clothes before returning to nearby clubs, hunting for more victims.

He was found guilty of rape and jailed for 11 years.

The judge ordered him to serve a further five years on licence and he was placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Melody says: "Knowing he was finally behind bars was a relief.

"I'm just glad that I have no memories of the attack.

"He's never shown remorse for what he did to me, but I won't let it hold me back.

"While everyone's raising a toast at midnight on 31 December this year, I'll be asleep by 10pm."