A WOMAN who has dedicated her life to helping victims of sexual violence has been honoured with an MBE.

Susan Pearce, the chief executive officer of Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland, took over the role in 2013 but only after she persuaded them to allow her to continue to work with service users.

The 57-year-old, from Darlington, was part of the Independent Police Complaints Scrutiny Panel for Northumbria and became a Volunteer Counsellor and Helpline Support worker at Darlington and County Durham Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre (RSACC) while at university.

Her nomination shows that she has given many hours for free to counselling women who have called the sexual violence helpline over the years she has been involved in the service.