‘My sex abuser stepdad stole my childhood and every ounce of self-respect that I had’
A TEENAGER who tried to kill herself three times after she was sexually abused by her stepdad says: “I know girls who have succeeded in taking their own lives. I’m lucky I got justice instead.”
Katie Simpson, 19, spoke out after Peter William Goodchild, 67, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for molesting three girls.
He started preying on Katie when she was nine and continued until she was 13 while he was in a relationship with her mum Sarah.
Katie fronted up to Goodchild in court, telling him of her suicide attempts: “I am glad I failed on all of those occasions because I knew your day would come.”
She suffered in silence for 10 years but has now waived her right to anonymity to show other victims there is a life after abuse.
Katie said: “I need to be strong, not for me, but for the next person. Coming forward could save another girl’s life.”
The survivor, who lives near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, with Sarah, 56, recalled Goodchild would say her mum would not
believe her and hate her if she revealed the attacks. The builder began a relationship with Sarah in 2009. The following year he was convicted of making and possessing indecent photographs but convinced her his nephew put the images on his computer.
Sarah, a hairdresser, said his family supported the claim and Goodchild even went to a specialist doctor who deemed him a low risk to any child.
In March last year, Katie told her mum Goodchild had sexually assaulted her but she could not bring herself to go into detail.
He admitted to Sarah he had touched her daughter over clothing.Two other girls also said he did the same to them. The first of the three victims came forward in 2016 but no one believed her, including Katie because her stepdad told her she was the only “special” one he attacked.
But later a second girl came forward before Katie herself. Then when she and Sarah were on holiday lastAugust she told her mother the full extent of the abuse.
Ruined
While Sarah worked in her salon on the grounds of the family’s home, Goodchild would let himself into the house to abuse Katie.
Goodchild, from Bury St Edmunds, was arrested last September and pleaded guilty to 12 charges of sexual assault, related to three children, at Ispwich Crown Court.The pervert, who also used the name Peter Scott, was last week handed the jail term – including concurrent sentences for the offences against the other two girls – plus four years on extended licence. He also received a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and a 10-year restraining order.
Katie said she had mixed feelings even during sentencing: “He stole my childhood and took any ounce of self-respect I had. There was a part of me that thought ‘He was a nice stepdad’. He helped me buy my first car and helped me fix things.
“He always helped me, but he also ruined me. He was keeping me sweet. He always said ‘Family doesn’t turn on family’ and told me he’d be killed in prison.
“In court when they said 14 years, even though I was relieved, I still felt some guilt.”
In a message to other silent victims of abuse, she said: “It gets better. I promise you. I want you to stand up for yourself because these people don’t deserve to walk around free. “Stay strong. Yes, now is a whirlwind but there is a day that will come when the sun will shine and you will know your feet are still stood on the earth and justice will come.”
Sarah branded Goodchild a “monster” who manipulated her too. She said: “It doesn’t matter what people say.
“No one can punish me more than I already have been punished by my own feelings of guilt.
“I didn’t protect the one person I’m meant to protect most in the world. I can’t stop what happened to Katie but I’ll scream and shout to make sure it doesn’t happen to another child.”
Bravery
Sarah sees his sentence as a victory and has written the number 14 on the fridge as a reminder.
Det Con Stefan Iftode, who led the case, urged victims of other abusers to come forward, adding: “The victims have shown incredible bravery and this case clearly demonstrates we are committed to pursuing perpetrators.”