Victim impact statements
DURING the sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, prosecutor Caroline Rees QC read three victim impact statements to the court on behalf of the victims.
The first statement said: “I feel what has happened to me at their hands has destroyed my life. They destroyed my childhood by what they did to me.
“I blamed myself for a long time. The abuse has affected my mental health all my life. I have suffered with depression, anxiety and paranoia. I struggle to go anywhere on my own.
“When I was 18 I began to smoke cannabis because I could not cope with my life. I began taking heroin which has had a huge impact on my life. I no longer felt anything, it literally numbed my emotions.
“The fear of going to court and relapsing again frightens me.
“I have an opiate addiction. I feel like a child. I cry constantly and I cannot forget what happened to me. For almost 30 years I have been dealing with the mental torture of what Peter and Avril did to me.”
The second statement said: “I have always struggled with my mental health. I think they could see my vulnerability which is why they targeted me.
“It has had a huge impact on my whole life. I constantly felt scared and fearful. I never felt able to tell anyone what happened to me because of the shame I felt.
“I feel I used drugs as a coping mechanism. I did not feel safe to walk past their house. I have found the strength and support to turn my life around. I began a drug rehab programme.
“The police came to me. The thought of coming to court heightened my anxiety. I feel like I am fighting my demons on a daily basis. I have never discussed what happened to me with anyone, not even my partner.
“I found taking heroin numbed my emotions. I am frightened of relapsing.”
The third statement read: “What happened to me... has affected my life hugely. Even now I can only eat a few mouthfuls of food.
“Since the incident occurred, I have always struggled with my mental health. I would self-harm by cutting my forearms. I have begun self-harming again.
“My health at the moment isn’t good... due to the stress of the court case. I am still scared of them and I hate that, even though I am a mother in my 40s.
“The doctor put me on antidepressants in 2013 and I have been on them ever since. I was drinking to try and forget what happened to me. By the end of most days I would be angry and aggressive and tearful because of what they did to me.
“When I drink now I still end up crying because of what they did to me. I feel my life is a mess and I cannot function properly.
“Whenever I have to speak about them or think about the case I get tearful. I think I am so scared because when Peter raped me I felt powerless. I think that is how I feel now – powerless.
“I have flashbacks. I just want to feel normal. I don’t want to be tearful and scared.”