A CHILD victim of sexual abuse has told of the hardships of speaking out and praised how she was supported through the process by Essex Police.

In September, a sexual offender Stephen Flynn was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of seven counts of child sexual abuse and child cruelty.

Two months after the sentencing, the victim, who will remain anonymous, met with her investigating officer, detective sergeant Vicky De’ath to discuss her experiences of the investigation.

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“When my investigation began, I was just 13 years old and struggling to deal with what had happened to me on top of the worries and stresses teenagers normally have,” she said.

“I was so reluctant to talk to anyone and felt as if I was constantly talking to different people every day, whether that was from the police or other agencies.”

The victim described the four-day trial as “nerve-wracking”.

“I would anxiously wait at home for updates, sitting there thinking about how this was all in the hands of 12 random jurors,” she said.

“It did feel at times like it was his word against mine, so what if it didn’t go in my favour? I remember getting called about the guilty verdict and feeling in complete shock.

“The day after the sentencing, although I should have been happy, the whole thing hit me all at once with that closure.”

She added: “I remember the first thing I did when I woke up was check social media. I sat there reading people’s comments on the Facebook post about his sentence.

“There were a couple of negative ones, but I remember seeing someone comment to say that my bravery had helped keep their granddaughter safe. That felt amazing to know I had taken a dangerous man off the streets and he couldn’t harm anyone else like he did me.

“My control had been taken away from me by the perpetrator for so long, I think when I got the control back it was so overwhelming.”

“Despite the positives, this whole investigation has been far from easy. My health has been affected, I have suffered with anxiety and missed out on job opportunities as I waited for this whole process to be over. What I’ve been through has not shaped who I am but it’s changed by views on sex and relationships as well as my ability to trust people. There is no stereotype for being a sexual abuse victim, it can literally happen to anyone, and I certainly didn’t think it would happen to me.

“I’m so thankful for the support I’ve received from Essex Police, especially Vicky and will remain grateful for helping me get justice and put this man behind bars for a long time. If you’re reading this and have been through something similar, but not found the strength to come forward yet, please reach out for help and don’t suffer alone. There is no guidebook to get you through the investigation process, you have to be patient as this will not happen overnight.”