The judge is also being commended for her handling of the case.
The woman at the centre of the midlands rape case is being applauded for her strength in pursuing the case.
Five men were handed down sentences ranging from six to 19 years for the sexual attack on a 17 year old girl in the midlands in 2016.
In her victim impact statement, the young woman said she blamed herself for getting into a car with her attackers, innocently thinking they were her friends.
But rape survivor Debbie Cole is among those paying tribute to the young woman for her courage in the harrowing and lengthy trial:
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