A woman who was sexually abused by her sister as a child has told victims there is ‘incredible support’ available, urging them to come forward.
Harriet Richards, who has waived her legal right to anonymity, is finally moving forward with her life after 44-year-old Jassey Snooks was convicted of inciting a child family member to engage in sexual activity.
The defendant was 26 when she started abusing Harriet, who was just 13, by involving her in sex shows with men over webcam sites like Chatroulette.
At sentencing yesterday, Winchester Crown Court heard that she consumed drink and drugs with Harriet, and purchased a fake ID so she go accompany her clubbing.
His Honour Judge Bromige handed Snooks an 15-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and must register as a sex offender for ten years.
In a victim personal statement read out in court, Harriet said: “From the age of 13 I was catapulted into a world no child should have to be a part of.
“Whilst most teenagers were navigating all the changes that happen in growing up I was going out clubbing, having sex with older men, drinking and taking drugs in the care of my big sister.”
She continued: “Whilst my peers were doing homework I was living a double life, acting like I was a mature woman but in fact I was a child trapped in a world I didn’t know how to get out of.
“I can now see it for what it truly is – child abuse. This has been a hard fact to face.
“When you love your sister you don’t want to think of them harming you but this is exactly what she has done to me. She has only ever cared about herself.
“What I believed was normal was not normal. What I believed was love was abuse. Coming to understand that truth has shaped and tortured my life in ways I cannot fully explain.”
Directly addressing Snooks in the courtroom, Harriet said: “This is no longer mine to carry. This is your shame now. This is your guilt now.
“You must sit with what you did to your baby sister. I will leave here and rebuild my life. I will heal, and I will keep going for myself and for my son.
“You, however, will live with this for the rest of your life. And the world will know the truth.”
Just hours after the case concluded, Harriet spoke to Wiltshire 999s to encourage victims of similar crimes to come forward – saying that she has felt supported.
She said: “Wiltshire Police, the First Light charity and Horizon victim support have been an incredible support for me in this journey.
“Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to go through the trial and everything else involved in court proceedings.
“I want to thank them for their consistent support and updates on the case as it progressed.
“If you have ever experienced any sexual abuse, there are people available to support you throughout the process and I’d strongly encourage you to speak out.
“I’ve tried to take my own life twice in the past and it’s only been since I was able to speak out and report this crime that I’ve been able to start to move forward with my life and deal with this trauma.
“It will never leave me but I have some closure in that I have seen this process through and got a guilty verdict.
“I want to give hope to others who have suffered similar abuse that you will be believed and listened to, and supported. You are not alone alone.”
