HEARTBREAKING TESTIMONY FROM OFFENDER ERNEST SNOWBALL'S VICTIM IN STANLEY AFTER 40 YEARS

In January 2010, a man publicly broke his silence after four decades about the sexual abuse he endured at the hands of his foster brother, Ernest Snowball.

Michael, who endured years of abuse from Snowball while in a foster care home during the 1960s, had never spoken publicly about his ordeal until he waived his right to anonymity. Raised in Hexham, Michael is a former soldier with the Scots Guards.

He explained, “The grooming started when I was around four or five years old, and it was horrific. I’ve suffered in silence but there are a lot of people who go through this and don’t get the help or advice they need. I’m lucky that I’ve had my family’s support through this.”

Following Michael’s decision to report Snowball, who is now 65 and of Stanley, County Durham, Snowball was convicted on 10 counts of indecent assault and one count of buggery. He was sentenced to four years in prison and was ordered to register on the Sex Offenders’ List.

During the trial, it also emerged that Snowball had abused two other boys in the years prior.

Michael’s abuse only came to light after reconnecting with distant relatives. He said, “We all hated him so much, but if you asked anyone in Stanley, they would probably say he was a lovely man. I just want people to know what a monster he was so he doesn’t get away with it.”

He further shared, “It’s been hard to go through countless police interviews, but it’s not a matter of reliving it all over again – I live it every day. It was hard to tell my wife and kids about this, but there was no other option.”

Recalling the environment he endured, Michael stated, “We had to stay close to him when we lived together—everyone in the family totally feared him. It was not just sexual abuse; it was physical and psychological as well. You name it, he did it.”

He described the difficulties of those years: “Those were the hardest years of my life. The only escape was to go out with friends, but I always had to come home and stay in the same room with him at night.”