Is it possible to report historic rape without repercussions?

[Artmumcreative]

I've been considering reporting a rape that happened to me almost twenty years ago since the Gisele Pelicot case was all over the media. The issues are that I have absolutely no evidence, he would most likely deny it, he and his family know where my parents live (and I'm sure could track me and my own family down), I'm sure his mother would contact my mother to whine that I'd made allegations against her son.
So, pointless as reporting would be, is it possible to report whilst protecting my loved ones?

I'm very sorry you had that awful experience. I don't think the police or courts could do anything to protect your family at the early stages of reporting the crime. Although I could be wrong.

My friend was brave enough to do this recently, but to be honest it's been horrendous for her. Since so much time had passed there was no evidence at all, the police brought him in for an interview as well some mutual friends they shared, her friends said it didn't happen and he was a lovely lad, he adamantly denied it of course. She was triggered all over again and felt completely alone, vulnerable and unsafe all over again.

This is of course just my friends experience, yours may be completely different.
I think another main question you need to ask yourself, along side your family's physical safety, is are you ready to go over all of it again? Is your mental health in a good enough place to deal with the triggers, PTSD, accusations, everything that comes with this. I know mine certainly isn't, I recently tried trauma therapy and I was shocked by how intense my reactions were.
Sorry you went through this OP, hope you're okay x

Without evidence it would be very difficult to prove anything if he denies it. A conviction would be unlikely BUT police might be interested if he has had another similar accusation or a conviction that you don't know about.
No-one on here can advise you on how he or his family might react as we don't him or them. If the police did decide to interview him, he would be advised not to contact you.
Have you thought of speaking to Rape Crisis for advice?
rapecrisis.org.uk/