A teenager who suffered four years of sexual abuse at the hands of her evil stepfather has bravely waived anonymity to tell other victims suffering in silence: “Go ahead.” People will believe you. Justice will come.’
Pete Goodchild groomed and took advantage of Katie Simpson between the ages of nine and 13 and terrified her into keeping it a secret.
Only after two other victims came forward did she begin to accept that others would believe her if she also spoke about her ordeal.
Now 19, she said the maximum 14-year jail term handed down to the pervert who changed her life was “absolutely shocking”, although the mental scars of her experience still haunt her.
Asking other victims of sexual abuse to put aside their doubts, she said: “I know how terrible it is for a child to go through this.”
Katie Simpson (pictured) was groomed and taken advantage of by her stepfather between the ages of nine and 13 and terrified into keeping it a secret.
Katie (centre) with her stepfather Peter William Goodchild (left) and Katie’s mother Sarah (right)
“I tried to kill myself three times, I have PTSD and anxiety and I take stupidly strong medication, all because a man tried to ruin my childhood.
‘But I want to be the person who speaks out and hopefully helps the next victim not to commit suicide and come forward. The victims deserve to be heard. Justice will come.’
Goodchild, 67, was jailed last week after admitting six charges of sexual activity with a child under 13 involving Katie. Prosecutors agreed not to file further charges of attempted penetration and harassment of his mother, Sarah.
The pedophile also pleaded guilty to five counts of sexually touching a child under 13 years of age. Victims have the right to automatic anonymity.
Judge Emma Peters sentenced him to 14 years, which was reduced to ten years due to his guilty pleas plus time spent on remand.
Katie, a stable keeper who lives in Wattisfield, near Diss in Suffolk, said: “It’s an absolutely amazing phrase.” She couldn’t have gotten more if they had tried.
His mother added: “Over the next few days I kept telling people that I heard correctly, didn’t I? I had told a friend that he was going to be sentenced to four years, reduced to three, and that he would be out in a year. I stuck the number 14 on the refrigerator to remind me.
Goodchild, a builder, and Katie’s mother were together for 14 years and lived together for nine of them. They married in 2018.
Katie, pictured with her mother Sarah, said the maximum 14-year jail term handed down to the pervert who changed her life was “absolutely unbelievable”.
Explaining how difficult it was to tell her mother or any other adult about what started when she was still in elementary school, she said, “There was a part of me that thought, ‘He’s a good stepdad.’ He helped me buy my first car and helped me fix things.
“He always helped me but he also ruined me. He was keeping me sweet. He always said, ‘Family doesn’t turn against family,’ and he told me they would kill him in prison.
Goodchild, also known as Peter Scott, had previously been convicted of possessing and taking indecent photographs of children, but convinced his wife that someone else had put them on his computer.
The first of his victims reported his vile behavior in 2016, but at first no one believed him, including Katie, whose mind had been warped by her tormentor, who told her she was the only “special” person he abused.
But the second victim came forward and Goodchild was charged with crimes on New Year’s Eve 2022.
Katie confided in her mother in March last year, but only admitted to being touched over her clothes.
Desperate to keep her family together, and also under her husband’s “manipulative” spell, mother-of-four Mrs Goodchild told him to seek counselling.
The horror of what happened finally came to light in August, when mother and daughter were on holiday together in Turkey.
Goodchild was arrested and charged the following month and, following sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court last week, was told he must spend at least seven years behind bars.
Katie first attempted suicide by overdosing when she was just 12 years old and again at 14. She was planning to crash into a tree after buying her first car when she was 17, but was saved when her best friend called her while she was “speeding.” the car and sobbing. ‘.
She said: ‘I still don’t trust people. It takes me a long time to get to know people before I let them in. I build walls that are through the roof.
‘I can’t describe how much my life has changed. I was carefree, happy and cheerful and now you are lucky to make me laugh. I’m completely numb.
‘(The prison sentence) is a great relief because it can no longer hurt anyone or affect me. But it is a slow recovery. I’ve been burying and hiding things for ten years. It will take more than one day in court to fix years of trauma.
His guilt-stricken mother blames herself for what happened, saying that she “didn’t protect the one person I should protect the most in the world.”
But extraordinary Katie said: “I think she’s an idiot for blaming herself.” She was manipulated and groomed and she knew nothing.
“We were stuck in the same situation but in different directions.”
Hairdresser Mrs Goodchild, 56, who is now in the process of divorcing her evil husband, added: “She is incredibly brave. “She is my hero.
“She’s been through a lot and this (speaking out to help others) is her way of helping herself: helping others.”
Detective Constable Stefan Iftode, who investigated the offences, said: “This was an extremely traumatic experience for the victims and was committed by a criminal who abused his position of trust with this offence.”
‘The victims have shown incredible bravery and this case clearly demonstrates that we are absolutely committed to pursuing the perpetrators, supporting the victims and continuing to ensure the safety of our communities.
“We urge victims of any serious violent or sexual crime to go to the police and remain committed to supporting all victims who report sexual crimes.”
For confidential assistance, call Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See samaritans.org