A woman who waited more than four decades to report she was raped by her brother aged seven to 11 has described the pain of being asked to be a bridesmaid at her wedding.
Suzi Holt, 54, from Ely, Cambridgeshire, was abused by Ian Martin, 61, who threatened to take her into custody if she revealed the truth, and bribed with candy to stay silent.
He was recently convicted of two counts of rape and was jailed for five years at Cambridge Crown Court.
Today, Suzi – a care home cook and mother of three – bravely waives her right to anonymity to help other survivors after years of waiting, for fear that this admission will “destroy” her late father.
“I want to show that no matter how much time has passed, you will be believed,” she said.
Today, Suzi – a nursing home cook and mother of three – bravely waives her right to anonymity to help other survivors.
Martin was Suzi’s older half-brother from her mother’s previous relationship.
With her father working long hours as a truck driver, the girl often found herself with her brother while their mother went out with friends.
“I dreaded those nights,” she admitted. “Ian was unhappy and sullen. I always felt nervous around him.
The horrific sexual assaults began happening when Suzi was seven and her mother let Martin look after the children.
While she was watching television in the living room, he climbed on top of her and raped her.
Suzi desperately wanted to tell her parents, but Martin scared her by telling her she would be institutionalized if she told anyone.
The abuse continued every week when her parents were away – and the girl tried to stand up to her attacker.
“I knew what he was doing to me was wrong,” she said.
The horrific sexual assaults started happening when Suzi was seven and her mother left Martin to look after the children (Suzi pictured aged nine)
Ian Martin, 61 (pictured), was recently convicted of two counts of rape and was jailed for five years at Cambridge Crown Court.
“Once, when I was eight, I told him that what he was doing to me was bad and that he shouldn’t do it to me again.
“But he threatened me again. I desperately wanted it to stop, but I was afraid of the consequences.
When Suzi was nine years old, Martin raped her at their great-grandparents’ house, while they played cards in the other room.
Then he gave her money so she could buy candy.
“It was like he was buying my silence,” she said. ‘I hated him.’
The following year, Martin invited Suzi to accompany him and his friends to a motorcycle meet, but when they arrived at the vacant lot, it was deserted.
“He walked me to the water’s edge and forced himself on me again,” she said.
“I was hoping someone would catch it, but we were sheltered by trees and hills.”
When Suzi was nine years old, Martin raped her at their great-grandparents’ house, while they played cards in the other room. Martin photographed at the age of 13
The years of abuse finally ended when Suzi got her period.
“I told him he couldn’t touch me anymore,” she said. “Luckily, he never laid a finger on me again.”
But Suzi had suffered in silence for years, never telling anyone about what she had endured as a child.
When she was 19, Martin met a woman and they became engaged.
Suzi was asked to be a bridesmaid and, even though it was the last thing she wanted to do, she agreed, purely to stop people from asking questions.
“I wore a lilac dress and had a happy smile on my face,” she revealed. “All I wanted was for his family and friends to know what a monster he was.”
Years passed and Suzi met her husband. In 1997, she finally told him about her past.
“He was really supportive and urged me to go to the police,” she admitted. “But I couldn’t while my father was still alive. I knew it would destroy him.
Instead, Suzi found it helpful to open up to her best friends.
It was only a few years ago, in 2018 – after the sad death of her father – that she decided to denounce Martin.
“I entered the police station and made my statement,” she remembers. “The officers immediately put me at ease.”
The next day, Suzi went to her mother and told her about Martin’s mistreatment. The older woman was so shocked and horrified that she gave up on her son.
In June 2021, Suzi bravely confronted him at Cambridge Crown Court to give evidence. Pictured today, at age 54
Two weeks later he was arrested but denied the charges.
In June 2021, Suzi bravely confronted him at Cambridge Crown Court to give evidence.
Martin was convicted of one count of rape against her, but for the others there was a hung jury, which meant there would need to be a new trial.
He was released on bail, and Suzi was ‘constantly looking over his shoulder, for fear of passing him in the street.”
Two years later, the second trial took place and Suzi relived the abuse again.
After a three-week trial, Martin was convicted of another count of rape.
In June this year he was sentenced to five years in prison and placed on the sex offenders register for life.
“It’s nowhere near enough for what he put me through,” she said.
“But all I ever wanted was a guilty verdict.
“I share my story to show that no matter how long ago the abuse happened, you can still get justice.
“I waited over 40 years for mine, and now I’m moving forward with my life.”
