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A predatory paedophiles sickening campaign of sexual abuse of a vulnerable child was revealed after the victims mother caught them in bed together.

Toby Lees, 29, of Garland Road, Colchester, admitted a string of sexual offences including rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault between 2011 and 2018.

At Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday (May 25), Lees was sentenced during a hearing attended by the young boys family.

At around 9.30pm on March 11, the victims mother caught her son and the defendant in bed together.

Their lower halves were covered and she saw the defendant quickly move his hand, causing her to become suspicious.

After coming clean to his sickening crimes, Lees sent a text to his mother, despite initially denying everything.

The text read: Mum, I would never try and excuse what has happened.

I know it was wrong and accept the consequences of my actions.

I am not passing blame, I know I am an adult that should never have let it happen. When can I expect the police to turn up?

He was arrested by police and his phone was seized where it was discovered he searched various indecent terms online.

In his police interview on March 13, he made a 79-page confession of sexual abuse against the young victim spanning several years.

As the defendant told police about his gross catalogue of abuse, Lee claimed he did not know why he allowed it to continue and felt physically sick after it happened.

He said was it was a 50/50 relationship but told officers he was not putting the blame on his victim as he was a child.

Lees claimed there was never any force and that it was never devised or planned it but that it just happened.

In a police statement, the victims mother told officers her son was vulnerable, lacking in confidence and is overall an anxious boy.

She explained how he was not someone that trusts people easily and finds it hard to build relationships.

During his interview, the victim told police about the abuse starting when he was was prepubescent.

He could not remember how or why it started but was asked what kind of things would happen.

The victim went on to describe on one occasion that Lee attempted to penetrate his anus but it was too painful and they stopped.

Prosecuting lawyer Carolyn Gardiner told the court how the abuse completely changed the victim.

The victim is not the same.

He has been assessed for counselling and is on the waiting list but he has been told that it could be five months before he is seen.

Mitigating on the defendant's behalf, Nneka Akudolu said: He had a good sense and courage to admit to these very serious offences.

"These offences lead to a lengthy custodial sentence and he acknowledges and accepts that is what to follow.

Having read his pre-sentence report, there is a glimmer of hope for rehabilitation without the need for a dangerous determination.

He had not so much an interview as a 79-page confession, he had not held back at all when questioned by police.

The offences he has pleaded guilty to have been formed around his own confessions.

"Some in his position facing similar charges do not always do what is clearly right."

Ms Akudolu added that her client's own child would suffer as a result of her father being punished.

"He wants to make it clear he pleaded guilty because he is guilty and because he is sorry, not only sorry for what he has done to his victim but also the distress he has caused to the family," she continued.

There are no excuses for his behaviour, he is responsible for his action and he described getting caught as almost a relief as he had to confront the depraved truth of what he was doing.

It is a very sad day for everyone concerned, there is no one in the public gallery in support of him and he only has himself to blame.

Judge Turner turned to the defendant in the dock, who looked at the floor throughout the sentencing, calling his campaign of abuse a depraved course of conduct.

Sentencing Lees, the judge told him: You are 30 years of age, you are father of a four-year-old daughter, you perpetrated across seven years a series of gross sexual offences against a young boy.

You were discovered in fairly dramatic circumstances, you were caught red-handed.

You knew his age, you knew the danger, you knew the consequences and you still participated in disgraceful conduct.

"It was exploitative, it was opportunistic and deliberate.

It was a horrific course of conduct which has cast a shadow over much of his life.

You should have known better than to do what you did.

Lees was sentenced to 14 years in prison after admitting to a charge of rape, attempted rape, four counts of sexual assault and seven counts of causing or inciting sexual activity with a child.

A sexual harm prevention order was also put in place and Lees was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

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Paedophile Ivan Keeling has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of raping and sexually abusing a schoolgirl.

The pervert pensioner groomed his young victim before subjecting her to a 'campaign of abuse' over an eight-year period.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 71-year-old plied his victim with money, cigarettes, alcohol and chocolates before sexually assaulting and raping her. The victim has been left psychologically affected by the abuse.

Keeling, of Hammersley Hayes Road, Cheadle, denied sexual assault of a child under 13; rape of a child under 13; and two offences of sexual activity with a child. But he was found guilty of all the offences after a trial this week.

Elizabeth Power, mitigating, said: "It is difficult to find words to mitigate for such offences which he has now been convicted of. The jury accepted what the complainant said. On her evidence it was a sustained and prolonged number of offences over some time."

He told the defendant: "You have been convicted of a catalogue of the most serious sexual offences against a child.

"There is no doubt whatsoever, having heard the evidence, that you commenced a campaign of sexual abuse against her. You behaved in a way which was, quite frankly, appalling.

"You provided her with things she wanted, items of confectionery, cigarettes, alcohol and money. But all at a price that she satisfied your sexual predilections for many years.

"Throughout the trial you have completely denied any responsibility. It was perfectly clear to me and the jury that what was happening was a campaign of sexual behaviour towards a vulnerable child."

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A man who raped two women during a campaign of cruelty and control has been jailed for eight years.

Thomas Gordon, 54, carried out painful attacks on his victims and threatened to post topless pictures of a third woman to her work colleagues.

The attacks took place in Comrie and Aberdour in Fife between 2010 and 2016.

The judge at the High Court in Edinburgh told Gordon, formerly of Comrie, that all his victims had been "badly damaged" by his conduct.

Lady Scott said he had been convicted of charges that involved "a course of controlling, abusive and threatening conduct".

Gordon had denied a string of charges but was found guilty of two offences of rape and further crimes of assault and threatening and abusive behaviour.

One of his victims told the trial he had made her give up her job, and tried to stop her having contact with any men.

She said: "He took my phone away from me so I didn't have any numbers. I lost contact with my family because of him."

Gordon's defence lawyer said he continued to deny his guilt.

After the sentencing, Det Sgt Mark Kane, of Police Scotland, said Gordon presented "a significant risk to women".

He added: "It is only through the courage of his victims in coming forward and reporting what he had done, that he has now been brought to justice and I hope the sentence today brings some form of closure for these women.

"There is no time limit for anyone who has suffered abuse to come forward. It is never too late to report to the police or to seek support and advice from one of our partner agencies, such as Womens Aid.

"Equally, I hope this conviction sends a clear message to perpetrators that the passage of time is no barrier to investigations, nor access to justice for victims."

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A former head teacher who secretly filmed boys getting changed and downloaded child abuse images has been jailed. More than 3,500 indecent images were found on devices belonging to 47-year-old Tim Moule, who was the safeguarding lead at his school. Videos of boys changing from uniforms into sports kit were also recovered. Moule, from Shropshire, admitted voyeurism and making indecent images charges and was jailed for 52 months. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said he was reported to the police after a parent had found social media messages from him to her son. Prosecutor Howard Searle said Moule was sacked after indecent images, downloaded following 1,700 separate paedophile-related web searches, were found on a hard drive and laptop. Moule, of Severn Way, Cressage, told police he had not gained sexual gratification from the images but refused to comment further after images of his voyeurism victims were recovered. Sentencing him at Stafford Crown Court, Judge Michael Chambers QC said it was difficult to envisage a more gross breach of trust and that had not shown much remorse. He added that an aggravating feature of the indecent image offences were that the children were in "pain and distress." Defence barrister Jasvir Mann said "little can be said" to mitigate his conduct and Moule knew that there was no excuse for accessing the material. Moule, who is married, was the head of schools in Wolverhampton and Shropshire after a "stellar" career rise. He previously admitted six counts of recording a person doing a private act and two counts of making indecent photos of a child.

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Mark Kirby, from Thirlestane Crescent, Far Cotton, was sentenced to a total of three years and four months, after pleading guilty to one count of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted three counts of causing or inciting a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity and two of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Sentencing Kirby, Judge Adrienne Lucking QC told Northampton Crown Court: "This is a clear example of the dangers people like you bring to the internet.

"You were persistent and determined in your efforts to establish a sexual relationship with children online."

Judge Lucking also made him the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

PC Chris Barker-Bowles, who led the investigation leading to Kirbys conviction, said: Kirby preyed on children in the most sickening way and for his own sexual gratification.

"Im happy with todays court result which follows a long and complex investigation.

If people choose to engage in this appalling way they can expect our specialist police officers to be detecting and tracking their activity.

"We will bring to justice anybody who exploits children in this way.

Kirby will serve 20 months of his sentence before being freed on licence.

An NSPCC spokeswoman said: Kirby went to great lengths to commit horrifying abuse against children and his actions are a stark reminder of the risks associated with the internet.

Its far too easy for predators to contact young people online often with devastating effects - and its important that parents discuss the dangers with their children.

The government has a crucial part to play and its recent commitment to legislate to protect children online is a huge step forward and a victory for the NSPCCs Wild West Web campaign.

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A FATHER who followed his victim for more than 15 minutes before attacking her has been sentenced to seven and a half years in jail. Gary Carlisle, 50, of South Ham Road, South Ham, admitted to attempting to rape a woman at a previous hearing and was jailed today (Friday 18 May) at Winchester Crown Court. The court heard that Carlisle attempted to rape the 38-year-old woman in the car park of The Rising Sun, in Chapel Hill, in the early hours of Sunday, 19 November 2017. The woman was on a night out with friends when she went to walk home alone. CCTV footage showed to the court saw that Carlisle followed her through the town centre before attacking her. Detectives identified Carlisle through forensic and CCTV enquiries and he was then arrested and charged. After sentencing detective inspector Penny Murray, from Hampshire Constabularys Amberstone team, said: This was a disturbing case and I would like to thank the survivor for the bravery and courage she has shown in getting this to court. Carlisle followed her through the town centre after she had enjoyed a night out with friends. She was alone and vulnerable as she walked home and Carlisle followed her before attempting to rape her. Offences like these are rare in Basingstoke, but I hope that the sentence given today will give people confidence to report these crimes to us when they do occur. We know how hard it is to come forward and report these offences, whether they have taken place recently or in the past, and we are committed to getting justice for victims and have specially trained officers to support them through the process.

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The victim of a predatory Northampton taxi driver has described how the jailed sex attacker showed no remorse for his 'heinous' crimes by denying his guilt for three years. Abdul Shohid, of Overstone Road, The Mounts, was arrested in 2015 after two women reported him to the police. The taxi driver, who ran a private firm in Northampton, was then linked to an unsolved rape case after police matched his DNA. Last month, judge Robert Brown handed the 47-year-old a 12-year sentence for the rape and a further six months for the two sexual assaults. But one of his victims has described how the cab driver dragged his victims through a three-year ordeal by maintaining his not guilty plea. It is clear Shohid is a sexual predator who has been preying on vulnerable women for some time," said the victim in an impact statement. "Operating a taxi firm, he abused his position of responsibility and took advantage of three women that are known of. "I feel I got away lightly, and if I were in an intoxicated state it may have been a considerably more horrific outcome. "My sympathies go to the poor young woman he raped. "I personally no longer take taxis unless absolutely necessary and never, under any circumstances, at night or on my own. "It is a sad reflection on the strain and lack of funding on the judicial system that it took eight sets of trial dates and deferments and over three years to bring this individual to justice. "And the fact Shohid pleaded 'not guilty' shows he had no remorse or accountability for his heinous actions by putting the victims through the additional ordeal of a crown court trial.

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A MAN who was the face of a shop in the heart of Witney has been spared jail after viewing thousands of sexual pictures of children. Ian Pilcher, 63, who for 30 years worked at Domino Menswear in Corn Street, was yesterday handed a community sentence at Oxford Magistrates Court for making (downloading) indecent images of children. The court heard Pilcher viewed the images to cheer himself up. Pilcher, of Apley Way, Witney, had pleaded guilty to downloading more than 5,000 indecent images of children. The court was told that Pilcher, who has been married for 34 years, had a preference for Category C images of young girls. Police seized a number of electronic devices from Pilchers home and he helped identify where to find material. John Berry, defending, said Pilchers interest in looking at the indecent images came during a difficult period of his life. He said: His son attempted suicide. His sister-in-law committed suicide. Both of these happened just a year before he began looking at these images. His employer had become unwell and Mr Pilcher was having to work very long hours. He was at a very low ebb and found that looking at these images cheered him up, to use his expression. Mr Berry said Pilchers obsession grew over time. He quoted Pilcher as saying: I was at a point I could not stop it. Im glad the police came along because I knew that would cause me to stop it. I knew what I was doing was wrong. Mr Berry said that Pilcher was yet to reach a full understanding of his desire to look at indecent images. He continued: He has some insight into his offending but Im not sure he fully understands why it started. He doesnt fully accept that he must have found the images stimulating. He has been to see a doctor and is receiving counselling. He better understands that, though he has not done anything to harm young girls, that this sort of behaviour has or could result in young girls being harmed. He is willing to work fully with anyone able to help him. District Judge Kamlesh Rana gave Pilcher an 18-month community sentence, which included 100 hours of unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation requirement. She said it was regrettable Pilcher was appearing in court after a life of previously good character. The judge added: I have to take into account the number of images and that, by viewing these images, you were condoning the exploitation of young children. District Judge Rana also ordered a sexual harm prevention order that will control how Pilcher accesses various electronic devices. Pilcher appeared in the Oxford Mail in October when he revealed that Domino Menswear, which had sold menswear and school uniforms for 34 years, was moving to Abingdon to escape soaring business rates. Pilcher, who was made redundant after the story was published, said at the time he was immensely sad after serving four generations of customers at the store.

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George Croudace, who had fostered children for 32 years with his wife, has been jailed for sexually assaulting three youngsters. 

To the outside world, George Croudace was a good, kind man who had fostered children for decades - but today he can be unmasked as a paedophile “monster” who was living a lie.

Former trade union leader Croudace and his wife had been taking in youngsters at their home in North Shields for 32 years.

But the 71-year-old’s double life as a secret pervert can now be revealed after he was jailed for sexually assaulting three youngsters and downloading vile child abuse images.

The victims - not children he had fostered - were as young as five when he abused them, with one of them claiming it happened hundreds of times.

When the youngsters revealed to their mums that “every parent’s worst nightmare” had come true, police moved in.

And when they checked his computers they found he had also downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children as young as two.

Now Croudace has been locked up for nine-and-a-half years at Newcastle Crown Court for three counts of sexual assault and three of making indecent pictures of a child.

The mum-of-two of the victims said in a statement read to the court: “Despite having no energy left, wild horses could not stop me being here without shame and making him hear what he has done.

“My daughter had very little confidence. I never knew why this was. She had always been nervous around men. I never knew why this was.

“Then with the words that came out of her mouth, it was every parent’s worst nightmare. She had been sexually abused.”

She added of Croudace: “He was a foster carer of vulnerable children. He was always around children.”

The woman said she is worried about the effect the abuse will have in later life.

She said: “They were stripped of their innocence as young children in a way no-one should ever have to experience.

“My kids are amazing and deserve to be loved and protected. He stripped them of their innocence.

“How do you put into words how something like this affects someone?”

She added: “He suddenly became a monster.”

The woman said the abuse has affected her mental wellbeing and she feels a sense of failure for not protecting the victims.

But the defiant mum added: “He will not destroy our lives. We are good, kind, loving people. We are better than him.”

The mum of another victim said in her victim impact statement: “Since the incident she has been very withdrawn and reluctant to be left with any male adults.

“She refuses to go to the toilet on her own. Talking through it is very traumatic, she becomes very emotional.

“She only knows it was bad and something an adult should not do to a child.”

The woman said Croudace was aware her daughter had suffered serious health problems.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Muir said the abuse came to light when one girl, aged around eight, said Croudace had done “rude things to her”.

A boy, aged five or six, also said Croudace had been touching him sexually.

Miss Muir said: “He said it happened hundreds of times.”

The third victim said he had touched her sexually on one occasion when she was four or five and it hurt.

After his arrest, police seized four laptops from Croudace.

They found 225 of the most serious, category A, images, 16 category A videos, 194 category B images, eight category B videos, 313 category C images and three category C videos.

Miss Muir said: “The age range of the children in all of the videos and images was two to 14 years old.

“There was evidence of systematic searching for key words linked to indecent images of children. These related to both web searches and peer to peer application searches.

“At least one image dated back to 2007.”

Croudace, of no fixed address, who has no previous convictions, made no reply when interviewed by police.

Jailing Croudace and imposing lifelong sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order, recorder Eric Elliott QC told him: “Until August 2016 you presented as a hard-working respectable member of the community, much admired for your work as a trade union leader and a foster carer for many years with your wife in relation to many young children.

“In fact, from about 2007, you were living a lie and presenting a completely false impression to the outside world.”

The judge said he accepted Croudace’s downloading of indecent images between 2007 and 2015 was “relatively sporadic” and most of it took place in 2015 and 2016.

He added: “I accept at the time you were suffering a depressive illness which reached its height in 2015 and 2016.

“But of course those matters were no excuse for what you did, certainly no excuse for what happened in relation to (the children).

“Your conduct has left a trail of devastation.

“These are clearly extremely serious charges which call for a substantial prison sentence, notwithstanding your previous good character, remorse and the content of various medical reports.”

Brian Mark, defending, said: “There’s nothing I can say in mitigation that excuses his conduct.

“The damage that he did is the damage that he did and the victims and their families will have to live with that. Nothing I say can take away from that.”

Regarding the indecent images, Mr Mark added: “They were downloaded but not kept for looking at.

“They were recovered but not available to be viewed. The images were deleted. It was disgraceful that he looked at it but he was not keeping a library of them.

“He was suffering from some depression, he had no previous convictions and he shows remorse.”

Mr Mark referred to reports on Croudace which said he “perceived the molestation of foster children as too risky”, adding: “The report says he never took the opportunity to abuse foster children or wanted to.

“There was an overlay of psychiatric illness and the offences might not have happened without the overlay of psychiatric issues.

“There’s a lot of self-loathing. He chose to make himself homeless.

“He is an isolated individual and has destroyed the relationships he had.”

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A PAEDOPHILE found with more than 70,000 indecent images of children covertly filmed an elderly woman using the toilet, a court heard.

Ronald Dear placed the camera inside the victim's toilet while he was decorating a home in Southampton.

The 60-year-old's four year reign of viewing of illegal and explicit pornography was ended after police received reports he had downloaded an single indecent image of a child, Southampton Crown Court was told.

When police searched his computer equipment they found thousands of moving and still images, including many that prosecutor Martyn Booth described as "depicting the most serious type of images you could imagine".

Also found were two videos of the elderly victim on the toilet, which were made around 10 years ago.

Mr Booth said that some of the images involved children as young as three months old "crying in pain" from the abuse they were subjected to.

After he was arrested on July 2, 2017, Dear gave a no-comment interview but did state he was not attracted to children – a claim labelled "ludicrous" by Mr Booth.

The images were found on a number of devices, which, when examined, revealed he had been downloading images since September 2013.

The court heard that Dear, previously of good character, was also attracted to older women and would use the 'dark web' to access material.

Dear pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images, ranging between categories A to C, and a charge of voyeurism when he appeared for the first time at Southampton Magistrates' Court in April.

Susan Ridge, mitigating, said Dear was at "a low risk of reoffending" and had "suffered with depression after struggling to cope with the arrest and the reality of what he has done".

Judge Christopher Parker QC said that due to the "seriousness" and "huge" amount of images and his acts of voyeurism, he had no option but to send Dear immediately to prison.

Dear, of Wryneck Close, Southampton, was jailed for 44 months imprisonment. He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely and will have to notify the police of any changes to his address for the remainder of his life.

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Sentence increased by 4 years for child abuser, Usmaan Ahmad A man who repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl over a period of years has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred it for being too low. Usmaan Rafiq Ahmad, now 35, repeatedly sexually assaulted his victim over a period of 8 years, while she was between the ages of 3 and 11. Ahmad was between the ages of 14 and 21 at the time. The effect of these crimes has been lasting and severe, causing ongoing psychological struggles. Ahmad was originally sentenced to 4 years and 6 months imprisonment at Harrow Crown Court. Today, after the Solicitor Generals reference, the Court of Appeal increased his sentence to 8 years and 6 months in prison. Commenting on the sentence increase, the Solicitor General said: "I am pleased that the Court of Appeal has agreed that Ahmads sentence should have been higher. He subjected a vulnerable child to consistent and repeated sexual abuse which has had a lasting impact. I hope this decision can bring some comfort to the victim."

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Released from prison. A man with a 'Peter Pan Complex' seduced a schoolgirl and then blocked her on social media after sex. Jordon Randall, now 26, also talked another girl into exchange lewd photographs before blocking her as well. He has now been jailed for five years after admitting having sex with a 13-year-old and encouraging another victim to swap images. Judge Heather Norton told him that under new laws had the victim been a "just a few months older", the sentence would have been "in double figures". Randall, of Charles Drive, wept throughout the hour-long hearing at Canterbury Crown Court - watched by one of his victims. She told the judge, in her impact statement, she had been a virgin at the time and was so traumatised she contemplated suicide. Judge Norton heard the victim had later gone missing and was found standing on Rochester Bridge wanting the pain to end. She said: The past two years has been an horrific journey...because the events of May 2016 play in my head day in and day out. I (later) began to self-harm, struggling to keep my pain under the surface." Canterbury Crown Court heard Randall sent messages to the 13-year-old via Snapchat within days agreed to meet. The two met in a carpark in Gillingham when Randall drove the child to a secluded wood where they had protected sex. Prosecutor Tim Forster said after dropping off his victim, he then blocked her on social media. He added Randall was arrested after police received an anonymous tip-off and discovered that around the same time, he was grooming another 14-year-old schoolgirl. "I began to self-harm, struggling to keep my pain under the surface" - one of Randall's 13-year-old victims". After receiving a topless photograph of her he again blocked her on social media, he added. Detectives examined messages between Randall and his victims in which he admitted he was facing prison if he was caught and swore one of the girls to secrecy. Daniel Stephenson, defending, said Randall was very immature and had a 'Peter Pan Complex' preferring to be around young people. Judge Norton, in sending him to prison, said it had been "systematic grooming" of children "designed to improve your own self-worth" at the expense of the feelings of his victims. She also criticised the fact it had taken two years for the case to get to court which was both unacceptable and cruel to the victims and the defendant. Acting detective sergeant, Paul Edwards, said: "Randall has proven himself to be a manipulative predator, deliberately engaging with children and using their vulnerability to fulfil his sexual gratification. "He presents a very real danger to children and I welcome the sentence he has received. "This behaviour is not acceptable and I would like to commend the victims who helped the investigation and pursue justice." An NSPCC spokesman added: "Randell clearly poses a serious threat to children, systematically abusing his victims despite knowing their ages. "It is right that he has now faced justice and we hope both children are receiving the support they need to recover from their horrific ordeals. "This case demonstrates the risks associated with social media. "Our #WildWestWeb campaign is calling on the Culture Secretary to force social media companies to use technology to flag up grooming behaviour to moderators and warn children before they are at risk of being abused."

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Brave survivor of child sex abuse tells how she overcame her fears and found closure through justice.

When Amanda shared her first kiss she thought she was in love.

Still a child, she thought the man she trusted loved her too.

And when she turned 16 she felt sure Christopher Doyle, fast approaching middle age, would keep his promise and leave his wife.

By that age she was in a different relationship, this time with someone her own age.

Yet the growing up she was forced to endure at the hands of Doyle would taint this new love, as it would her next three decades.

Only now, after bravely standing up in court and reliving how Doyle preyed on her - and watching as a judge announced the sex offender would serve a six year sentence - does she have closure.

It has taken a long time for her to cleanse herself of Doyle’s vile crimes.

Now she has done so, Amanda hopes the justice she has won will inspire others to have the courage and faith to seize control of their lives earlier.

Speaking to the ECHO, she recalled the harrowing impact of her abuser’s crimes and told how, with the support of police, her new-found justice has changed her life.

I HAD TO LIE TO MY MUM AND DOCTOR OVER WHETHER I WAS A VIRGIN

It started with a kiss.

The grooming, the manipulation, the exploitation had already begun, but Amanda is only aware of that now she can look back on her stolen childhood with adult eyes.

At the time she felt special to be the target of an older man. But that feeling quickly turned to pain and panic as she struggled to cope with experiences she was too young to come to terms with.

She said: “I was an average child and I had not even kissed a boy before Mr Doyle.

“Being pushed to be sexually active with him, I had no choice but to learn about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases at such a tender age.

“After the first time Mr Doyle had sex with me I bled down below.

“I was alone and frightened with no-one to speak to.

“A few days after the first time Christopher Doyle had sex with me I contracted thrush. I was very scared and worried about what was wrong with me. I had to visit the doctor with my mother and describe the discomfort and discharge I was suffering from.

“I had to lie to my mother and the doctor when I was asked if I had had intercourse with anyone.

“I felt very uncomfortable and isolated.”

STOLEN INNOCENCE

Doyle, a dad himself, targeted her again and again.

She was too young to understand, too confused to speak out, too scared to stop it.

Over the course of almost two years she remained silent as he kissed her, fondled her and abused her.

The crimes typically took place behind closed doors.

But the consequences played out in public.

And the consequences of Doyle’s sick advances did not stop when she finally ended his exploitation.

They coloured her life for years.

Amanda explained: “What Mr Doyle did to me made me grow up very quickly.

“By the age of 14 I was hitting pubs, bars and clubs.

“I was drinking most Friday and Saturday evenings - I wanted to be a grown-up.

“A few months after I stopped contact with Mr Doyle, I met my first husband. I wanted to be in a relationship, being with someone made me feel safe.

“The only way I thought I could have a relationship was through sex, so a few weeks after we met we were having intercourse.” By the age of 20, she had already become a mum, married and separated.

MY FAITH IN THE WORLD WAS CRUSHED

While Amanda was able to end the physical abuse, conquering the psychological impact was a battle she had to endure far longer.

Post traumatic stress disorder left her moving on and off anti-depressants, addiction left her binge eating, drinking and smoking until she was sick.

Too scared to relax in case her thoughts consume her, Amanda lives her life at 100mph.

At the same time she is hyper-sensitive to the dangers she perceives her own children to be at risk of, and issues with low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and sex acted as catalysts to the break-up of her first two marriages.

She told the ECHO: “The repetitive and intrusive thoughts, the flashbacks, sleeplessness, insomnia, nightmares, difficulties in concentration and hyper-vigilance – are all things I struggle with.

“Sexual assault has robbed me of my confidence and my self-esteem. My dignity, my autonomy and my self-respect have all been compromised as a result of the crimes carried out against me. My faith in myself and my faith and trust in the world has been crushed.”

THE BELIEF OF JURORS HELPED FREE ME FROM HIS CRIMES

The legacy of Doyle’s crimes may endure, but it has not defeated Amanda.

With the help of counselling she now understands she is not to blame for what happened, that “this is Mr Doyle’s wrongdoing and shame - not mine”.

That could not be clearer after Amanda made the brave decision to report Doyle’s offences.

Inspired by watching her daughter reach the age at which she was abused, she decided it was time to reach for justice.

Doyle made her go through the drama of a trial. He denied his crimes, forcing Amanda to take the stand and give evidence.

When she did, her truth conquered his lies.

Jurors at Liverpool Crown Court found Doyle guilty of seven counts of indecent assault against a female under the age of 16. Last month the 66-year-old, of The Dell in Croxteth, was jailed for six years and made to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The experience vindicated Amanda’s decision to go to the police.

And the fact she was believed has freed her from the shackles with which Doyle’s crimes had bound her.

I WAS SCARED, BUT POLICE PROVED TO BE A CRUCIAL PILLAR OF SUPPORT

She now hopes others can take inspiration from what she went through and find their freedom too.

The support of police proved crucial throughout the process.

Amanda said: “I had contact with three officers from Merseyside Police.

“All three acted with considerable empathy, sensitivity and gave me tremendous support throughout. I would not have been so brave without them.

“Words can never describe how my husband, my friend, and I feel about the officers who gave such care and compassion. They were with us when we were scared and didn’t understand what was going to happen next, clearly explaining the process and ‘holding our hands’ every step of the way.

“It’s not just about what the officers did, but how they did it; their actions came from the heart and not just the head.

“They have shown the highest professionalism, the greatest perseverance and most importantly distinguished help and kindness over this long and tiring case. They are all very special individuals and a true credit to Merseyside Police.”

Amanda also wished to praise the support provided by the Court Welfare Service and the Witness Care Officer, which she described as “exceptional”.

WE WILL HELP AND SUPPORT YOU, JUST LIKE WE DID FOR COURAGEOUS AMANDA

Detective Inspector Susan Ennis from Merseyside Police Protecting Vulnerable People Unit said “Throughout this investigation the victim has shown great strength and courage and I hope her bravery will encourage other victims to come forward. She has been through a horrendous ordeal and

I hope the result has released a huge weight from her shoulders. Merseyside Police will provide every help and support to all victims of this type of crime.

“I would like to take this opportunity to reassure anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us, we will deal with you sensitively and make sure that reports are properly and thoroughly investigated.

“If anybody else is out there suffering in silence I want you to know that there is help and support available to you, both from Merseyside Police, where we have specially trained officers who will listen to you and treat you with sensitivity and compassion, and from reliable and trusted support groups who will support you from your initial report and for as long as you need.”

*The woman’s name was changed to protect her identity.