Chrissie Hynde says women who 'wear high heels and dress provocatively entice rapists'

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The rock star Chrissie Hynde has said her rape at the hands of a motorcycle gang in her youth was "all her doing" - claiming women must "take responsibility" if they dress sexually.

In comments that have re-ignited a debate about women's "role" in assaults, Ms Hynde has said no-one else was to blame for the sexual assault she suffered at the hands of a motorbike gang.

While discussing her autobiography Reckless in an interview with The Sunday Times, the lead singer of Eighties rock band The Pretenders said women should expect unwanted attention if they wore a certain kind of clothing and demeanour.

“If I’m walking around and I’m very modestly dressed and I’m keeping to myself and someone attacks me, then I’d say that’s his fault,” she told the Sunday Times. “But if I’m being very lairy and putting it about and being provocative, then you are enticing someone who’s already unhinged – don’t do that. Come on! That’s common sense.

"You know, if you don’t want to entice a rapist, don’t wear high heels so you can’t run from him. If you’re wearing something that says ‘Come and f*** me’, you’d better be good on your feet… I don’t think I’m saying anything controversial am I?”

Ms Hynde was referring to a chapter that outlines her encounter with a motorcycle gang in Ohio whilst high on drugs at the age of 21.

Accepting an invitation to a party, the younger Hynde was instead taken to an abandoned house and forced to perform sexual acts for the men.

She said that being in a “vulnerable” state was no excuse.

"Those motorcycle gangs, that's what they do. If I'm walking around in my underwear and I'm drunk? Who else's fault can it be?"

Experts have called Ms Hynde's self-blaming stance "simple psychological behaviour" that helps victims to think they are able to prevent future attacks.

The musician, who lives in London, responded to the accusation that she was not being very feminist by saying that many women who called themselves feminist were actually not. She referred particularly to contemporary pop stars dressed as "porn stars".

Yet she also said in interview that "men need someone to look after them. They're the weaker sex - you see it wherever they are in the world [...] Women are keeping the shit together. "

She added: "I mean, I'm too independent. I'm not proud of it."