Sexual abuse survivor wanted to ‘end her life’

A SEXUAL abuse survivor who was assaulted in her pyjamas as a child by a man in his 20s said it has made her want to “end her life”.

David Tiley, 45, was convicted of assaulting the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, after carrying out the offences in the 1990s in Cardiff, when he was in his 20s.

He denied the allegations of indecent assault but was found guilty by unanimous verdicts following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

The trial heard that Tiley, of the Vale of Glamorgan, was left alone with the victim and began touching her over her pyjamas in a “slow and sensual” way.

He then proceeded to pick her up, placed her over his lap, pulled down her trousers and began touching her sexually while continuing to play computer games.

During the assault, the girl was crying and begged Tiley to stop but the defendant carried on touching her and repeatedly said “good girl”.

Once the attack had ended, Tiley pulled the girl’s trousers back up and dismissed her.

The abuse came to light after the victim bravely reported the matter to police as an adult.

Tiley was charged as a result.

At a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, the victim stood in the witness box to read out her victim personal statement, in which she recounted the devastating impact Tiley’s actions had made upon her life.

She said: “Emotionally I have been affected from an early age and I have never been able to articulate or recognise feeling or emotions that to others seem normal.

“My experiences have affected my future and ability to have healthy relationships.

“I feel isolated, alone, dark, separated and angry.

“I have been unable to work or go anywhere by myself, I have not been able to leave the house at times.

“The thought gives me major anxiety and I end up in a sweat.

“My mental health is low and I want to end my life.

“In the past I have used alcohol to take the pain away and I am on strong painkillers to help me sleep.

“My relationship with my family is non-existent.

“What happened to me robbed me of any happy relationship with them.

“Every relationship I have had has been affected by this crime.

“I push people away, I feel angry and I feel petrified of being hurt or abandoned.

“I have become an expert at showing the world I don’t care but nothing could be further from the truth.

“I feel low, worthless and like I don’t deserve to be in this world.”

Defence barrister Andrew Davies said his client Tiley, of Lon Yr Eglwys, St Brides Major, maintained his innocence but accepted he would be going to prison for a long time.

He said the defendant was well thought of in his community and described him as an articulate and highly educated man who works in the chemical industry.

As a result of his conviction, the court heard Tiley has lost his home and his business and will miss out on the final months of his father’s life.

Sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan said: “This was an abuse of trust.

“You singled her out and made her feel groomed. She was entitled to feel safe.

“The court bears in mind the courage of the witness in attending court and reading out her statement.

“It’s account.”

Tiley, who wept and shook his head during proceedings, was jailed for four years and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

He will also sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

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