Justice in sexual abuse case reminds survivor 'speaking out does matter'

“Essex Police and the court dealt with my case with professionalism and care, ensuring every detail was heard and fully presented to the jury.
“From the very beginning, I felt my experience was taken seriously and the process was handled with the gravity it deserved.”

Those are the words of a survivor of non-recent sexual offending, after she came forward to report the abuse she suffered when she was a child.

The woman, who is entitled to life-long anonymity, says reaching the conclusion of her case has brought her “a sense of justice and recognition”.

She said:

“It has shown me that these crimes are treated with the seriousness they deserve. It reminds me that speaking out does matter.”

First report to police

Her case began when she felt able to reach out to the police in June 2022, reporting she had been the victim of repeated sexual assaults almost 20 years ago.

She told officers that she had been frequently abused by 58-year-old Dave Roper when she was a child.

Specialist officers with our Child Abuse Investigation Team launched an investigation and ensured support was in place for the victim.

Roper, of Stanley Avenue, Romford, attended a voluntary interview in October 2022 as part of our enquiries, where he denied the allegations.

Four charges of indecent assault and two charges of indecency with a child under 14 were secured against him.

Thanks to the evidence gathered by our team, Roper was unanimously convicted of each charge following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Last month, he was jailed for 16 years, with an extended licence period of two years.

He will remain subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 25 years.

'This has shaped who I am'

Describing the impact of the abuse to the court, the victim said:

“What happened to me as a child is something I buried deep inside for many years.
“I couldn’t face it until adulthood because the trauma was too overwhelming.
“I learned to survive by supressing it again and again, until I became numb, but as I have grown I have realised that numbness was never healing.
“The scars this has left on me aren’t visible, but they run deep inside me.
“They have shaped who I am, how I live, and how I see the world.
“After all these years, I am only just beginning to try and accept what was done to me, and to try to start the long journey of healing and acceptance.”

Speaking following the court case, she added:

“Although the legal process has now come to an end, what happened continues to affect me every single day.
“It shapes how I feel, how I think, and how I cope with many parts of my life.
“The past does not disappear once a verdict is reached, and I still live with the weight of those experiences.
“The support I received throughout the investigation and trial was invaluable.
“It gave me strength in moments where I felt overwhelmed and helped me to navigate a process that was often difficult and emotional.
“Knowing I was not alone made a real difference.
“While no outcome can undo what happened or take away the pain, the conclusion of the case has brought me a sense of justice and recognition.”

The help on offer in Essex

We have a number of specialist teams dedicated solely to investigating many varieties of sexual offending.

These include our Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) and our Quest Team, which specialises in investigating non-recent child sexual abuse.

Detective Constable Rachel Horton, officer in the case and a member of CAIT, said:

“There is no ticking clock or deadline when it comes to our investigations into offences as serious as sexual abuse.
“Even if offences are non-recent, as long ago as 20 years in this case, we will still listen.
“We will still investigate, we will still treat the matter as seriously as if it had just happened yesterday.
“That’s a really important point I’d want to reinforce.
“There are numerous ways for victims to come forward and seek support.
“Even if you’re not ready to speak to us, there are a number of wonderful organisations which operate entirely independently of the police.
“Seeking help is the first step.”

The victim in this case was also supported throughout by an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA).

An ISVA operates entirely independently of the police, providing emotional and practical support to victims and survivors of both recent and non-recent sexual abuse.

Support is there for anyone affected by rape and sexual abuse, and no victim or survivor is alone.

Synergy Essex offers free, confidential help to anyone in Essex affected by rape, sexual abuse, or sexual violence - whether it happened recently or in the past.

It’s made up of three expert services:

• Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse
• Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service
• Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis

You don’t need to report anything to the police to get support. You can contact Synergy Essex directly, or ask someone you trust, like a friend, family member or professional, to refer you.

Support is available for all ages and includes:

• Counselling (in person, online or by phone).
• Emotional and practical help.
• Guidance from Independent Sexual Violence Advisers if you choose to report the crime.

Their First Contact team can talk you through your options and help you get started.

Find out more on the Synergy Essex website.