Police have some questions to answer after the extraordinary case of the rape that never was.

A girl who claims to have been raped three years ago when she was 15 has been refused payment by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority because it said, on the balance of probability, it did not take place.

Yet this girl has told The Argus that police, who did not bring charges, never took a statement from her friend who was in the same room at the time.

Her life has been ruined by this attack. She opted out of school, stopped taking exams and often bursts into tears. She has been emotionally scarred by the experience.

Police say they believe her story but there is not enough evidence to press charges.

Yet there is no doubt sexual intercourse took place and that the girl can make a convincing case that it was against her will.

Because the police would not take action, her claim before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority was never likely to succeed.

Now the case is out in the open with Brighton Kemp Town MP Des Turner taking it up, police should have another look at the evidence.

It may be that, even with firm questioning of the man involved plus evidence from the girl and her friend, the case is still not strong enough. But she does deserve to have it properly investigated in a way that has not happened so far.