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Search forAbuse victim urges others to come forward
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 07:00
Gemma Bunby, who was abused by her stepdad Kevin Bunby, today took the brave step of waiving her legal right to anonymity as a victim of sex abuse, in the hope her story might help victims of other people come forward.
The 25-year-old said: "If there is anybody out there who is suffering, I would urge them to come forward.
"For years I lived with this awful secret, but I want people to realise there is an end to it if they just speak out.
"It is only the first step and it isn't easy, but it is better that living with that."
Bunby, of Bethune Avenue, west Hull, was jailed for 14 years in September after a jury at Hull Crown Court convicted him of 12 counts of rape and sexual abuse.
The court heard Bunby, who had been living with the family since Gemma was five, had started routinely abusing her when she was 11.
She said: "He controlled everything I did.
"After he was arrested, I found it difficult to find my balance because he had always been there telling me what to do.
"Coming to terms with that has been hard."
During a week-long trial, Gemma took the stand, giving a harrowing account of a catalogue of abuse which went on into her 20s.
Gemma decided to report the abuse in January this year after she became ill with anxiety.
Today she welcomed the opening of a new centre for victims of sexual assault and abuse.
The Care After Sexual Assault centre, on Hessle Road, west Hull, is jointly funded by Humberside Police and Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust and offers victims a confidential reporting system.
Gemma said: "I think it is a good thing that there is somewhere for people to go."
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