SICK ABUSE I WAS ABUSED BY STEPDAD FROM AGE OF 8 AS MUM SLEPT… I FINALLY FOUND BRAVERY TO SPEAK OUT BEFORE COPS LET HIM WALK FREE
Paton Flynnley was jolted awake in a state of distress, recalling the traumatic experiences with her stepfather during her childhood.Over a period of six years, she endured sexual abuse from Justin Smith, and although she eventually reported the abuse, her initial efforts nearly went unheeded due to police failings.
When first informed, the authorities did not thoroughly examine Smith’s electronic devices for evidence, leading to the case being dismissed.
It was nearly ten years later that Smith was finally incarcerated after a separate investigation into child pornography uncovered his previous abusive acts.
Smith received a six-year prison sentence last June at Leicester Crown Court for his offenses against Flynnley.
Despite this, she continues to battle PTSD and feels a sense of injustice, questioning why her abuser received such a comparatively brief sentence.
Flynnley was only eight when her mother began dating Smith.
The abuse occurred while her mother was out or asleep, with Smith targeting her when she was vulnerable.
She initially thought the acts were normal until a sex education lesson in sixth grade made her realize otherwise, leading to feelings of shame and self-hatred.
Fearing her revelations would harm her family’s reputation, Flynnley kept her suffering secret until a trusted family friend advised her to speak out.
The police then arrested Smith in early 2017, but he was soon released on bail.
Flynnley stayed with her father and grandmother during the investigation, but the case's dismissal due to lack of evidence deeply affected her.
Her mental health deteriorated as she became increasingly paranoid and anxious.
Despite her traumatic past, Flynnley managed to complete her GCSEs and A Levels and began university studies in 2021.
In early 2022, her aunt informed her of Smith's arrest for possessing indecent images of children.
When she reached out to police, her case was reopened, prompting a thorough review of previously unexamined electronic devices.
Smith ultimately pleaded guilty to multiple charges of sexual activity with a child and sexual assault in July 2023, and was sentenced to six years in prison, along with an indefinite restraining order.
The mental toll has left Flynnley with PTSD, night terrors, and EUPD—an emotional instability disorder.
She is unable to work at present and has launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund a civil suit against the police and private therapy.
She emphasizes the need for harsher penalties for child abusers and criticizes the police's initial handling of her case, stating that the system’s shortcomings have had lifelong consequences for her.
A police spokesperson explained that the 2017 investigation was initially limited, with devices not forensically examined, leading to the case's closure.
The case was later reopened after her re-investigation in 2022 revealed social media exchanges referencing the abuse, resulting in Smith's arrest and conviction.
The force expressed regret over the earlier investigation’s shortcomings, acknowledging missed opportunities for inquiry and apologizing to Flynnley.
