‘I have lost out on a childhood due to sex abuse’

After being abused by a family friend as a child, Jennifer Colebrook said her life would never be the same again.

Now 29 years old, she has waived her right to anonymity after her abuser Gary Wilson was jailed for seven years at Lincoln Crown Court on 15 December.

On his release, Wilson, 56, of Derbyshire, will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Ms Colebrook said: “I have lost out on a childhood…because of what this man has done to me.”

Derbyshire Police said Wilson abused her for five years from the age of 11 at his then home in Derbyshire.

He performed sex acts on her, incited her to perform them on him and took indecent images of her, the force added.

Ms Colebrook kept Wilson’s abuse secret until she was 22 when she confided in her parents and police.

He went on to plead guilty to three counts of making indecent images and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

Eleven charges were denied and went to trial – and all concerned Ms Colebrook.

In October, he was found guilty of five counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual assault of a child, two counts of inciting a child into sexual activity and two counts of taking indecent images of a child.

In a statement read out in court, Ms Colebrook explained how Wilson has affected everything from going out on her own to her relationships, career and travel.

Police said she still had symptoms of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, had suffered panic attacks, flashbacks, anxiety and depression.

“My life will never be the same again, after what happened to me,” she said.

“The effects of what happened to me have been with me since the beginning, and I can stand here now knowing that this could have been a completely different outcome.

“I say that as someone who, on multiple occasions, I have tried to take my own life because of what he did to me.

“I am still healing and will take a very long time learning to live with what happened to me.”

Det Sgt Chris Wright said Ms Colebrook had shown immense courage throughout the police investigation.

“She has also very bravely made the decision to waive her right to anonymity, so that her story can be told in detail.

“As Jennifer rightly puts it, ‘I have nothing to hide’.

“There is absolutely no shame in being a survivor of abuse, and I hope that Jennifer’s decision to speak out gives others the confidence to talk about what has happened to them.”

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