Hi readers, Nickie again. I thought it was about time I let you know of my dealings with the CPS after suffering a form of abuse at the hands of my step-father. It’s a long and complicated story as to how I ended up with a step-father in the first place so I shall simply say that like most I had a Mum and a Dad, said Mum and Dad had a bit of a penchant for “swinging”. Mummy and Daddy eventually met with another couple and what ensued were divorces and remarriages of retrospective parents.

Initially my younger brother and I, we were 4 and 3 at the time, were to live with my step-mother and my dad as well as her son, my step-brother. This continued for some seven years with many an evening spent watching my father beat the living crap out of my step-mother, God rest her soul. After my father had an affair when I was just 11 we were given a choice as to whether we stay with my step-mother or move back to live with my mother.

As an eleven year old child who only saw her mother every 8 weeks and loved her dearly there was no choice, one I to this day regret, and off we went to live with my mother leaving my step-brother at home with my step-mother. To this day I remember my step-mother’s words as I left her for the last time - “watch xxxx he is a dirty bastard” - at 11 I thought she meant he didnt wash!

Things were ok for a couple of years, I had a good relationship with my mother and even quite liked my step-father - until I started puberty - along with that, apart from the usual growth of pubic hair and periods came an unhealthy interest from my step-father.

This went on for 2 years and as it continued I rebelled more and more until the day I screamed at my mother “I cannot stay here any longer with xxxx trying to get in my pants any longer”. Her response to this was to pin me to the bed and batter me until I couldnt breathe whilst screaming “You dirty little slag, stand up in court and say that!”. After expelling all her energy she stood up and went to call my father. I remember thinking that was it, it’s all over, my Dad, my hero will be here to save me soon. I can relate to the passage in Joe’s book where he says “he felt a weight was lifted”.

Within an hour my Dad was at the house and I could here him walking up the stairs and remember feeling immense relief; it was short lived. He came into my room, I was expecting hugs, love, assurance - it wasn’t what I got - he told me to remove my trousers and underwear and belted me with his belts until I had welts across my arse.

Needless to say not long after I left home - I have no relationship with my parents and have been branded a liar. It has affected my relationship with men, well not so much now but from the age of 13 until I was 18 I slept with men because I believed it would make them love me.

Anyway at the age of 33 I decided that it was about time I proved I wasnt a liar and called the police. I gave them my diary, was interviewed for over nine hours, had to describe in detail my bedroom, the living room, in fact all rooms of my old home where the abuse took place and then it was all in the hands of the police and the CPS who would decide if they would prosecute.

The case was dropped due to “insufficient witness statements” - the man who made my teenage years hell still lives with my mother, still has a relationship with my half brother, still has the respect of my father whilst I sit on the side lines branded a liar and a vindictive bitch.

Answer me this, what paedophile says “Here mate I about to try and shag my teenage step-daughter - could you watch so you can be a witness for the prosecution when I get done for this”? Like I have said to my father in a conversation recently - there were only two people involved in the situation between xxxx and I - he isn’t ever going to say “Yes, I tried to screw your daughter” is he?

The CPS failed me on many levels, the system fails children on many levels and we as a society need to make some serious changes.

If the readers of this page have ever questioned why I support Joe heart and soul then maybe now you will understand.