Woman speaks about her sexual abuse as a child

Woman speaks about her sexual abuse as a child

THIRTY years after she was sexually abused by her adopt-ive father from Lancaster, a woman has spoken of her suffering.

Clare Robertson bravely agreed to waive anonymity to warn other parents about Peter Robertson, who has kept his liberty after pleading guilty to two counts of indecent assault on her when she was a schoolgirl.

Robertson, 70, of Princess Avenue, Lancaster, admitted the abuse at Preston Crown Court on July 21. He was given a two-year conditional discharge for the offences, which mum-of-one Clare says have haunted her since childhood.

Clare, 40, from Heysham, has not spoken to her parents since reporting her ordeal to police two years ago.

She said: "He was not a stereotypical paedophile – he was quiet and gentle.

"At first I believed it was normal, though I was very embarrassed. As I grew older I knew it wasn't but could not bring myself to tell anyone.

"He was my dad. I trusted him and loved him."

The offences happened when Clare, who was adopted, was growing up in the family home in Lancaster. She was just 13.

Former environmental warden Clare says the abuse has affected her life.

She left home at 17 and struggled to maintain relationships with people.

She said: "Even after I left home he would brush against me when I used to visit. It took me until I was 30 to work up the confidence to ask him not to."

Roberston had his legs amputated at Christmas and is now wheelchair-bound. He has refused to comment about the case.

Clare still has counselling and says that, despite her disappointment at the sentence, she hopes to move on with her partner of four years and their two-year-old daughter.