My life is a misery and I feel as though ... I purely exist

ments seen by the Chronicle reveal that, including Donna, four witnesses were willing to testify in court.

But they were never needed. Following his 2006 arrest, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) never charged the suspect – citing “insufficient evidence”.

But Donna claimed: “How do they say there isn’t enough evidence to make him go to court?

“I think there was enough there to take this to court.”

Among the others to offer evidence, a woman recalled how Donna’s brother, then aged nine, told her the alleged abuser used to “mess about” with them.

His claims were identical to Donna’s, claiming the man did “rude things” to the pair.

“I believed the bairn straight away,” the woman told police.

In anticipation of a possible prosecution, Donna was even asked to write a victim statement to be read at sentencing.

The heartbreaking document revealed the toll the alleged abuse had on her.

She needed counselling, suffered severe depression and self-harmed from the age of five, picking holes in her feet.

“I have attempted suicide as the pain I live with every day of my life is unbearable and at time I feel I have no other option other than to try and end this pain,” she wrote.

“My life is a misery and I feel as though I am not living but that I purely exist.”

In total Donna said she tried to end her life four times, often after visiting online suicide forums.

She said those episodes started after Northumbria Police “encouraged” her following her brother’s death to make statements about the alleged abuse.

Donna claimed her brother’s death was due to depression “linked directly” to the alleged abuse.

Heartbreakingly, Donna said the toll it had on her was just as cruel.

“As far as I can see I will never be able to have a relationship with anybody and therefore will never be able to have children and family of my own,” she wrote in her victim statement.

Donna, who now has a young daughter, said: “She has given me the hope to keep going.”

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “In 2006, a 61-year-old man was arrested in relation to a report of historical sex offences.

“An investigation was carried out and a file was put before the CPS for a charging decision.

“They deemed there was insufficient evidence to charge the man and so he was released with no further action.

“No formal complaint has been made to police and there is no record of any internal investigation, or the concerns relating to earlier abuse.”

The spokesperson added: “Protecting vulnerable victims of crime is the Force’s number one priority.

“Anyone reporting abuse can have confidence that our specialist officers will deal with their case with compassion and help ensure they receive the support they need.

“If the person in this particular case still feels that she needs support then we would encourage her to contact police and we can assist in getting her the help she needs.”

But Donna said she turned up to the police station last year.

Rather than receive help, she claimed she was effectively asked to leave.

“A policeman practically verbally frog-marched me out being very stern, saying why am I dragging all this up again,” she said.

Now, a year later, she’s desperate for the police to take one more look at her case.