A paedophile sexually abused a young girl in the 1980s - but remained undetected for decades until his victim alerted the police. The victim said the abuse had "destroyed her innocence".
Michael Patrick, 62, of Caerphilly, carried out assaults in his 20s when his victim was under the age of 14-years-old. In the intervening years the defendant, who was described as "child-like", was said to have lived an "isolated life".
But the victim, who has lifelong anonymity, said the assaults by Patrick had impacted her life in "so many ways". Speaking at a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday, the victim said: "I suffered in silence for many years..... I hated myself for this for many years, the best years of my life....I became a young woman with a family and looking at my beautiful children at the same age this all happened really broke my heart and made me feel worthless and pointless in being alive." The victim went on to say she had been protective as a mother and her children had lost out on opportunities due to her being unable to trust people.
