A DUDLEY woman who claims she was raped and beaten during ten days service in the army, feels she has finally let go of her demons as she tells the world her horrific story in a new book.

Charmaine Maeer was just 19-years-old when she joined Whittington Barracks in Lichfield as a soldier in 1997.

However she claims that within hours of arriving her terror began as she was forced to endure multiple rapes, was tied up by her fellow comrades, was sexually and physically assaulted and had a mock execution performed on her.

As soon as she was allowed to call home, the desperate teenager rang her mum, begging her to contact the barracks and tell them her dad had suffered a heart attack and she needed to return home.

At home, Charmaine become ill and was rushed to hospital, she was later diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and was discharged from the army three weeks later on medical grounds.

However despite being in the safety of her own home, Charmaine became too afraid to leave the house in case she ran into one of her attackers.

But after ten years, Charmaine, of Richmond Road, finally feels strong enough to tell her side of the story in a book - ‘The Hell of Allegiance’ which she has written with investigative journalist Stephen Richards, who was arrested and held for five days over her book.

Charmaine said: “It contains everything in it that I went through.

“I feel a lot stronger now it is out, it is like a big weight is off my shoulders.

“It was hard to bring it to light, as there were lots of tears and arguments with Stephen about me having to drag things out, but i’m glad I did.

“I don’t have to avoid the subject anymore and I don’t need to keep re-telling what happened, people can read the book, everything is there.

“After it happened I kept it all to myself and hardly told anyone. I’m relieved it is out, so are my parents - it is not just our secret anymore that only we could talk about.”

Charmaine reported the abuse in 1999, but has decided not to take proceedings any further.

The former Bishop Milner pupil added: “I was told if I went to court I wouldn’t be able to write the book.

“If I didn’t go to court they couldn’t stop me writing it. I wanted to let everyone know what happened to me.

“It’s not about the money, it is about my justice. I hope it will help other people to come forward and not be scared to tell their stories.”

Now aged 30, Charmaine is using her past experiences to help others as a reiki healer and a counsellor specialising in rape.

Her book ‘The Hell of Allegiance’ was published by Mirage Publishing on July 8, priced £7.99.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "The MoD has not received any complaint from Miss Maeer concerning her service in the Army. If she was to do so, it would be investigated. I understand that a civil police investigation into allegations made was discontinued but that is a matter for Miss Maeer and the civil police. Bullying or abuse of any kind is not tolerated in the Army."