A WOMAN who faced horrific sexual abuse at the age of just five has spoken out to encourage other young victims to talk to the police.

The 20-year-old was assaulted by trusted family friend Andrew Mayne as she slept in her bunk bed.

For 13 years, she and her older sister, who was in the room on one occasion, kept her abuse a secret before she decided to tell her boyfriend last year.

He then encouraged her to speak to her mum.

Mayne, now 51, has now been sentenced to eight years behind bars for the assault at Bournemouth Crown Court.

He had pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault, forcing his victim to relive her ordeal during his trial.

The woman, who cannot be named, said: “It was really horrible and embarrassing to remember it all again and speak to the police about it, but it was worth it.

“Everyone I met was really kind. It’s not very nice but there’s nothing to be worried about.”

The victim’s mother, who lives in Christchurch, said she was left “reeling” after discovering her daughter had been abused.

“It’s just beyond anything you can imagine,” she said.

“It has been an incredibly harrowing experience, but I’m so glad he’s now in prison.”

Callous Mayne, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault, winked at his horror-stricken victim as he walked into the court.

Her mother said: “The effect this has had on all of our lives has been huge.

“But the worst part of it all for me as a mother was that I didn’t know for more than a decade. It breaks my heart to think that they kept this awful secret. I can’t even look at photos of my daughter when she was at that age at the moment because it’s too horrible to even contemplate.”

She urged anyone who is a victim of sexual assault to go to the police.

“Don’t suffer in silence,” she said.

“It has been horrendous, but this evil man is now where he belongs – behind bars.”

Assault was ‘deplorable’

Judge John Harrow said the abuse was “deplorable”.
“The victim was a very young child and you were entrusted with looking after her and her sister,” he said.
“You were in a position of trust.”
The court heard how Mayne, of Whitby Road, Milford on Sea, sexually assaulted his young victim while her sibling was in the room.
Judge Harrow, sentencing, said: “I have taken into account the effect this had on your victim. She described an insecure childhood and panic attacks and these episodes still haunt her now.”