A teenager who was drugged by a 45-year-old man who intended to sexually abuse her said she “lost everything” after the incident.
Edward Brooks, of Lathom Road in Southport, was jailed for four years and two months after admitting 15 drug and sexual offence charges, including supplying drugs to the 16-year-old with sexual intent.
Speaking to the ECHO, his victim, now 17, said she was still coming to terms with the attack, which happened in October last year.
The girl, who is legally entitled to remain anonymous, said: “At first I thought he was just a friend.
“In the case the judge said he started grooming me in June that year.
“His girlfriend would bring food to me because I was living in a hostel at the time and then they started inviting me round for tea.”
But one night Brooks took her to a flat, owned by a friend of his who was away, and gave her cocaine and Zopiclone – a sleeping tablet.
The victim said: “I don’t have much of a memory of what happened because of the drugs but I do get some flashbacks now.
“He dropped me back home and it was only after that I started to come to and I didn’t know what had happened.
“It was horrible.
“I rang my dad and I said ‘something’s not right’, so my dad took me to the hospital and my mum rang the police.”
Liverpool Crown Court
At Brooks’ sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday his victim read out an impact statement about how he had affected her life.
She said: “I was in a state and in tears but I wanted read it out myself.”
She added: “He took the person I used to be away from me.
“It’s affected everything. He’s always in my head.
“I lost everything, I’ve got nothing any more.”
She said she suffered with mental health problems following the incident and is still on medication.
She added: “I don’t trust anyone and my self-confidence is completely gone.
“I had to leave my job.
“I lost family members because some of them didn’t believe me at first.”
She said she thought Brooks’ sentence could have been stronger.
She said: “He could be out in a couple of years, but this is going to continue to affect my life.”
But she praised the support she had from Merseyside Police.
She said: “They were brilliant about it and the woman I dealt with was great.”
She added: “I want to encourage more people to speak out if they are victims of things like this.
“I want to show others they can do it and they need to tell someone, because it will never go away and they need closure.
“I hope I can start to get some closure now, but I know it will be a long process.”
Anyone who would like to report a sexual offence or anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/