Woman who was raped by her uncle reveals his sick campaign of abuse began with a Valentine when she was seven years old – and what made her finally go to police aged 22

A woman has revealed how her uncle repeatedly abused her between the ages of seven and 13 and sent her Valentine’s Day cards during the abuse.

Elisa Blanco, now 25, was regularly raped and assaulted by Charles Sharkey, 72, until she reached her early teens.

He started his campaign of abuse by sending her another Valentine’s Day card when she was a child – but when she received another ‘love note’ from him at the age of 22, she decided to tell her story to police.

Sharkey was sentenced to 15 years in prison last October after being convicted of four counts of rape, two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two of sexual assault of a child and one of assaulting a child by penetration.

Now, Elisa is courageously giving up her right to anonymity to help other survivors of sexual abuse.

Elisa, a pastry chef, said: “For years I blamed myself for what my uncle did to me.

“I want others to know that it is never too late to report abusers. I’m glad I finally got justice.”

Sharkey, known to friends and family as Mick, was Elisa’s uncle through marriage and often babysat.

He was like a “second father” to Elisa, and the couple enjoyed watching the horse races together.

In February 2006, Elisa, then seven years old, was the only one at school who did not receive a Valentine’s Day card.

She says: ‘That night I cried to my parents and Mick.

‘The next day a card was pushed through my door. It was a Valentine’s Day card with the text: ‘To Elisa, love from ??? xxx’.

‘A few days later Mick told me he’d sent it. I was so happy.’

Even after Charles Sharkey, known to friends and family as Mick, stopped physically abusing her, he continued to send Elisa disturbing Valentine’s Day cards (Elisa was 16 years old with Sharkey)

Elisa (pictured) hopes that by speaking out she can help other survivors of sexual abuse

Later that year, Elisa and Sharkey watched the horse races together in his bedroom, while Elisa’s aunt was downstairs.

He asked Elisha to help him “relieve himself.”

She remembered saying, “I was confused, so he said, ‘I can show you, and you can help.’

‘He took off his underwear and started touching himself. Then he took my hand and placed it on his genitals.’

Elisa said she didn’t understand what was happening. When he was done, Sharkey told no one to know.

Elisa added, “I trusted him, so I had no doubts about what he had done.”

The following year, Sharkey sent Elisa another Valentine’s Day card, which she said made her feel “really special.”

In 2008, nine-year-old Elisa was in Sharkey’s bedroom when he ordered her to undress.

He then began to touch Elisha below, while also touching himself.

Months later, Sharkey raped Elisa for the first time.

Elisa courageously turned in Sharkey (pictured) at the age of 22 and in October last year he was jailed for 15 years

Elisa was seven years old when her deranged uncle’s abuse first began

She recalled, “He told me it might hurt, and it did. It was so heavy and long that I couldn’t move.

‘I was very scared, but I let him continue.’

Afterwards, Shakey thanked Elisa and from then on he raped her whenever they were alone.

She said: ‘I hated it but convinced myself it was normal.’

Two years later, in 2011, Elisa was taught about sex education at school and realized what she had previously been too young to understand.

She said: ‘I realized what Mick did was wrong. His abuse lasted until I was 13, when I confronted him about it.

“Luckily he never touched me again.”

But Elisa still had to see Sharkey at family events, and keeping the abuse a secret was torture.

Finally, at the age of 14, she opened up to a school friend, but it would be years before she worked up the courage to report him.

Elisa dated her uncle for five years before the abuse began. She said he was like a “second father” to her

In August 2023, Elisa bravely gave evidence behind a screen at Newcastle Crown Court

She said: ‘My boyfriend was so shocked and told me to report him but I wasn’t ready yet.’

While Elisa tried to avoid Sharkey, he continued to send Valentine’s Day cards and she received another in February 2014.

She said, “I tore the card up and threw it in the trash. I was so angry. It was as if he didn’t want me to continue what he had done.’

As the years passed, Elisa became afraid of men and had panic attacks whenever she saw or smelled someone who looked like Sharkey.

Then, one day in 2020, he visited Elisha’s house.

Elisha said, “I stayed upstairs. When Mick left, my mother came to my room and asked me why I was mad at him. My father then appeared and I told them everything.’

Elisa’s parents were shocked.

They asked if she wanted to report Sharkey, but she wasn’t ready yet. The following year, in February 2021, Elisa, then 22 years old, received another Valentine’s Day card from him.

Elisa reported Mick in 2021, with the full support of her parents, and said she immediately felt believed by the officers

Sharkey was found guilty of four counts of rape, two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two of sexual assault of a child and one of assaulting a child by penetration.

She explains: ‘A month later I reported it to Mick and made my statement. My parents were very supportive and I immediately felt believed by the officers.’

Sharkey was arrested but denied the charges.

Elisa said, “I knew there would have to be a trial. I was so worried.’

In August 2023, Elisa bravely gave evidence behind a screen at Newcastle Crown Court.

Sharkey was found guilty of four counts of rape, two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two of sexual assault of a child and one of assaulting a child by penetration against Elisa.

In October last year he was sentenced to fifteen years in prison.

Elisa said: ‘When the officer called to tell me his punishment, I burst into tears. Bringing him to justice made me feel so strong.

‘The memories of his abuse have scarred me for life, but at least now everyone knows who my uncle really is.’

If you have been a victim of sexual violence and need help, please call the Rape Crisis hotline on 0808 500 2222