PAUL BUSBY FROM WALSOKEN GUILTY OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN CAMBRIDGE COURT

In a recent and deeply troubling case, a man named Paul Busby, who resides in Walsoken, has been found guilty of multiple counts of sexual abuse that spanned over a period of seven years during the 1980s. The conviction was secured at Cambridge Crown Court last month, where a jury deliberated and reached a verdict of guilty by an 11 to 1 majority. Busby, aged 50 and living on Sleights Drive, was sentenced to a 15-month jail term, which was suspended for two years, as a consequence of his actions.

The victim, a woman now 44 years old, courageously came forward to share her story and to urge others who have experienced similar abuse to report it to the authorities. Her identity has been protected by using the pseudonym Ann. She revealed that her ordeal began when Busby, her step-uncle, was entrusted with babysitting her and her brother while her mother was at work. The abuse started subtly, with Busby pretending that his inappropriate actions were part of a game, but over time, the situation escalated into more serious misconduct.

Ann described how Busby was manipulative, attempting to normalize his behavior so that she would not question him. She recounted that as the abuse continued, she learned to avoid eye contact, looking away and trying to block out what was happening. She explained, “It was like it was happening to somebody else,” highlighting the psychological toll it took on her. Busby also used threats to silence her, warning that if she ever told anyone, he would harm her. These threats left a lasting impact, and even decades later, Ann experiences panic attacks, feeling as if he is behind her or coming to harm her. She has an injunction in place to keep him away from her, which has provided some sense of safety, but she admits that the trauma has left deep scars.

The abuse, which began when Ann was just seven years old and continued until she was 14, has profoundly affected her entire life. She shared that her early experiences led her to suppress her feelings, struggle with relationships, and develop aggressive and moody behaviors. She turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, which became part of her normal life. Ann emphasized that her abuser, who was about 21 at the time, was perceived by others as a kind and nice person, but in reality, he was manipulative and destructive.

She expressed her motivation for speaking out, stating, “I want this to help those who are going through it or have been through it. I want to help others. Yes, it is hard going to court, there are dark days leading up to it, but I know I have done the right thing.” Ann urged victims of abuse to come forward regardless of how much time has passed, emphasizing that the police were supportive from the beginning. She praised the authorities for their kindness and understanding, and she received emotional support from specialized rape counselors, which she described as “fantastic.”

Her message to others is clear: “Don’t think your attacker is invincible, they are not. Yes, they will lie, they will say you have made it up, they will manipulate others, it will make you angry, but please do something about it — you could just be stopping another child suffering.” Her story underscores the importance of reporting abuse and seeking justice, no matter how long ago it occurred, in hopes of preventing future harm to others.