I was sexually abused from the age of nine by my stepdad: Teenager, 19, who suffered four years of abuse at the hands of her evil stepfather waives anonymity to urge other victims to speak out – and insists ‘justice will come’

A teenager who was sexually abused by her evil stepfather for four years has bravely given up anonymity to silently tell other victims: ‘Come forward. People will believe you. There will be justice.”

Katie Simpson was groomed, abused and terrorized by Pete Goodchild between the ages of nine and 13 to keep it a secret.

It was only after two other victims came forward that she began to accept that others would believe her if she also spoke out about her ordeal.

Now 19, she says the maximum 14-year prison sentence imposed on the pervert who turned her life upside down was ‘absolutely astonishing’, although the mental scars of her experience still haunt her.

She called on other victims of sexual abuse to put aside their doubts, saying: ‘I know how terrible it is for a child to go through this.

‘I’ve tried to take my own life three times, I have PTSD and anxiety and I’m on stupidly strong medication, all because one man tried to ruin my childhood.

“But I want to be the person to speak out and hopefully help the next victim not commit suicide and come forward. Victims deserve to be heard. There will be justice.”

Goodchild, 67, was jailed last week after admitting six counts of sexual activity with a child under 13 involving Katie. The prosecutor agreed not to file further charges for attempted penetration and stalking of her mother, Sarah.

The pedophile also pleaded guilty to five charges of sexual touching of a child under the age of thirteen. The victims have the right to automatic anonymity.

Judge Emma Peters sentenced him to fourteen years, which was reduced to ten years due to his guilty pleas and time spent in custody.

Katie, a yard manager at a stable who lives in Wattisfield, near Diss in Suffolk, said: ‘It’s an absolutely amazing sentence. That’s all he could have gotten if they had tried.’

Her mother added: ‘Over the next few days I kept telling people I heard that right, didn’t I? He had told a friend that he would get four years, reduced to three, and that he would be out within a year. I put number 14 on the fridge to remind myself.’

Goodchild, a builder, and Katie’s mother were together for fourteen years and lived together for nine. They married in 2018.

She explained how difficult it was to tell her mother or any other adult what started when she was in primary school, saying: ‘There was a part of me that thought, ‘He’s 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 loved me. He always said, ‘Family doesn’t turn against family,’ and told me he would be killed in prison.”

Goodchild, also known as Peter Scott, had previously been convicted of possessing and taking indecent photographs of children, but convinced his wife they had been put on his computer by someone else.

The first of his victims reported his despicable behavior in 2016, but no one initially believed her – including Katie, whose mind was warped by her tormentor, who told her she was the only ‘special’ one he abused.

But the second victim subsequently came forward and Goodchild was charged with crimes on New Year’s Eve 2022.

Katie confided in her mother in March last year, but only admitted to being touched over her clothes.

Desperate to keep her family together, and also under her husband’s “manipulative” spell, the mother of four told him to get help.

The full horror of what had happened finally came to light in August when mother and daughter were on holiday together in Turkey.

Goodchild was arrested and charged the following month and, following conviction at Ipswich Crown Court last week, was told to spend at least seven years behind bars.

Katie first attempted suicide by overdose when she was just 12 and again at age 14. She planned to drive into a tree after getting her first car at age 17, but was saved when her best friend called her while she was “spinning the car and sobbing.” ‘.

She said: ‘I still don’t trust people. It takes me a long time to get to know people before I let them in. I build walls that are sky high.

‘I can’t describe how much my life has changed. I was carefree, happy and bubbly and now you are lucky enough to make me laugh. I’m completely numb.

‘(The prison sentence) is a huge relief because he can no longer hurt anyone or reach me. But it’s a slow recovery. I spent ten years burying and hiding things. It will take more than a day in court to repair the years of trauma.”

Her guilty mother blames herself for what happened, saying she failed to protect “the one person in the world I need to protect most.”

But extraordinary Katie said: ‘I think she’s an idiot for blaming herself. She was manipulated and groomed and knew nothing.

“We were caught in the same situation, but looking in different directions.”

Hairdresser Mrs Goodchild, 56, who is now in the process of divorcing her evil husband, added: ‘She is incredibly brave. She’s my hero.

‘She’s been through a lot and this (speaking out to help others) is her way of helping herself – by helping others.’

Detective Inspector Stefan Iftode, who investigated the crimes, said: ‘This was an extremely traumatic experience for the victims and committed by an perpetrator who abused his position of trust through this crime.

“The victims have shown incredible courage and this case clearly shows that we are absolutely committed to prosecuting perpetrators, supporting victims and continuing to ensure the safety of our communities.

‘We urge victims of any serious violent or sexual offense to report to police and we remain committed to supporting all victims who report sexual offences.’

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123, or visit a local Samaritan chapter. To see samaritans.org