My stepfather raped me when I was 14 - even in my 20s he'd show up at my home to abuse me and I feared I'd never escape him

A mother-of-two who was sexually abused by her wicked stepfather has revealed how she thought she'd die with her secret.

Gill Paylor, now 42, from Hartlepool, County Durham, was 14 years old when Richard Williams, 61, began his nearly decade-long reign of terror against her.

The abuse only ended when Gill was 23, and she met her husband, Sean Paylor, 37, leaving Williams unable to prey on her any longer.

Although Gill had tried to move on from her past, she suffered with PTSD over the years and attempted suicide numerous times whilst raising her children.

But her husband helped his wife come forward, inspiring him to become a police officer. Now, Williams has been sentenced to 28 years.

Gill Paylor, now 42, from Hartlepool, never thought she'd see the day when her abuser was put behind bars 

Richard Williams (pictured), 61, has now been sentenced to 28 years in prison for abusing Gill as a child 

Gill, a support worker, said: 'I spent half of my life being groomed and abused by a predator. But now, I have my life back and it's his turn to suffer.

'I want to let other women, especially wives and mums, know that no matter how old you are, it's never too late to reach out and get justice.'

In 1990, Gill was nine when her stepfather, Williams, moved into the family home after meeting her mother.

Growing up, she never had a father figure and found Williams to be attentive and loving at first.

Gill said: 'But Richard became very more touchy-feely over the years, wanting to tickle me or play fight. Then one afternoon, when I was 14 years old, Mum was at work and Richard came into my bedroom.'

He began feeling my breasts, and put his hands inside my trousers. He told me it was what people did when they loved each-other.

'Scared and confused, I stayed silent. After he left, I told myself it must be normal and didn't tell anyone. I thought it was what dads did.' 

After that, Williams preyed on Gill whenever her mother was at work. Three months later, he raped her. 

The mother-of-two first met Richard Williams when she was nine years old 

It was only when Gill found love with Sean Paylor (pictured together), 37, that she felt able to come forward and report her abuser 

Gill said: 'Richard took my virginity. He told me I was his special girl and that he'd do anything for me. He made me feel loved.

'But as I got older, I started to realise it was wrong and questioned whether I was being abused. He'd normalised it for so long, I didn't know what to believe.'

Meanwhile, Williams warned Gill never to tell her mother and that no-one would believe her.

As Gill got older, she fell into a deep depression as the abuse worsened. Gill said: 'He was violent, and the whole family feared him. I felt trapped and isolated.

'After each sexual assault, I buried my head in the sand, and told myself none of it was happening. He became controlling too, never letting me see friends and have boyfriends.' 

Desperate to escape, Gill moved out in 2010 when she was 18. Meanwhile, Williams got a new job as a taxi driver. 

Gill said: 'When I got a flat of my own, it was my fresh start. I hoped to never see Richard again. But just days later, as I was unpacking and settling into my new place, I heard a knock. 

'It was Richard. He towered over me and came inside. In my new flat, with my new life, he started abusing me again. I was terrified.'

Even after Sean and Gill married and had children, she still suffered with flashbacks of her abuse and crippling PTSD

After helping Gill face her past, Sean was inspired to become a police officer and champion other abuse victims 

Over the years, Williams told Gill's mother he was popping in for a cup of tea to visit her, or he'd visit her mid taxi shifts.

Gill said: 'Richard would wait outside my place, and never let me go out. My mental health hit an all-time low. I thought I'd die with my secret. I wanted everything to end.'

But in 2005, Gill met her husband, Sean, through mutual friends in Hartlepool and the couple fell madly in love. After six months together, Gill came clean to Sean about the abuse going on.  

Gill said: 'Sean held me tight, and was heartbroken. But I didn't have the heart to tell him it was Richard. Especially since he went on to meet him through family things. 

'By then, Sean and I never spent a day apart, so Richard's visits stopped. And at the age of 23, I was no longer his victim after nearly a decade. When I felt like giving up, Sean helped me see the light. He gave me a new lease of life.'

Over the years, Gill and Sean went on to have two daughters together, Brooke, 17 and Maddison, 11.

Years later, Williams and Gill's mother split so she never saw him again. Gill said: 'Eventually Sean also found out Richard was my abuser all along.

'Sean was sickened and hated him. He continued giving me the support I needed. Although, no matter how hard I tried to move on, my past haunted me.

Gill wants to encourage other survivors to speak out and urges them to know they're not alone

'When I was in my 30s, Sean and I married. But even with a loving husband, and two great kids, I suffered with crippling PTSD. I had constant nightmares of Richard, and attempted suicide a few times.'

In July 2018, Gill had a mental breakdown at home. With her blessing, Sean phoned the police and made the police report on her behalf. 

Gill said: 'The police dealt with me with such care, and most importantly, I was believed. It was like the world was lifted from my shoulders. 

'Sean felt so inspired by me, he decided to become a police officer in 2022, at the age of 35. He wanted to help people, especially survivors like me. I loved him even more for it.'

The next year, in August 2023, Richard Williams, 61, of Hartlepool, was found guilty of six counts of rape, and two counts of indecent assault against Gill at Teesside Crown Court. In September 2023, he was sentenced to 28 years.

Gill said: 'Sean took the stand and gave evidence. But when Richard went up, he lied through his teeth, telling the jury it was all consensual.

'It was awful, but I felt strength I'd never had before. I was no longer a victim; I was a survivor. Now, I'm relieved as Richard will probably die in jail. I'm also finally healing and moving forward with my life.

'To other survivors out there, if I can do it, so can you. Please don't suffer in silence anymore. It was never your fault and you will be believed.'

For help and support contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org