Statement not a ‘vindictive attack’ says Towersey resident

Dear Editor, As a resident of Towersey for some 31 years, I was appalled to read the letter from un-named supporters of the convicted paedophile Nick Graves in response to the very reasoned statement made by the family of his young victim.

I particularly take exception to the reference that damage done to him will be ‘minimal unless he is is continually reminded of it’. Damage such as this, and the betrayal of trust from a family friend, never heals and can surface many years later as many mental health workers can testify.

The statement was not a vindictive attack on Nick Graves and his family, but a plea to all families to listen to their children and report any concerns or inappropriate behaviour to the police. The reference to ‘mischievous complaints by children” is totally inappropriate – it has taken many years of hard work by concerned professionals to ensure that children are listened to and feel they can come forward, rather than living in fear and having such secrecy blight their lives. In the context of this case, at the end of the trial in which Nick Graves was unanimously found guilty by a jury of his peers of two serious sexual offences against an 8 year old child, the judge praised all the children concerned and the maturity they had shown.

There is also a need for every person living within Towersey, both now and in the future, to know there is a convicted paedophile living within their community so they can take every precaution to safeguard their children.

It is a known fact that the majority of sexual abuse does not take place by a stranger but by a person known to the victim, usually a trusted family member or family friend – a double betrayal.

The lenient sentencing by Judge Hall was also a betrayal to the young victim, but should not deter others from coming forward who have also been victims of sexual abuse. Attending a sex offenders course will not ‘cure’ a paedophile – so it is up to local communities to be eternally vigilant of those who live in their midst.

Yours sincerely,

Daphne Hazeldine
Towersey resident and neighbour of the convicted paedophile Nick Graves

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