Shrewsbury massage sex abuser: Father of disabled teenage victim speaks out
The father of a disabled teenage girl who was sexually abused by a masseur has spoken of her experience in the hope it will bring more victims forward.
He was also convicted of four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one count of sexual assault.
His victim's father, who can not be named for legal reasons, said his daughter, who is disabled, was left emotionally and psychologically scared by the abuse which began when she was just 11 years old.
The abuse only came to light when she was a teenager and found the courage to speak out.
Her father said: "My daughter lost her childhood and this has caused her serious psychological harm. She has been cutting herself, has taken overdoses and has even attempted to hang herself.
"She was recently diagnosed as having PTSD and she blames herself for what happened. She thinks she is worthless and that people thinks she's mad.
Blames
"Her way of coping is to socially isolate herself and she finds it very difficult to trust people, even her own family.
"This has harmed her ability to forge relationships and she finds it very difficult to trust people.
"Her experiences have harmed her relationship with me, as I originally introduced him to her. I have felt I was to blame and became an alcoholic. I was very depressed and contemplated suicide. I have extensive training in child safeguarding but at the time I was oblivious to what was going on in my own house.
"We know of one other possible victim, we hope any other victims will have the courage to come forward especially as he is now in jail."
After a two-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court last year, Townsend was convicted of abusing and assaulting the girl. The abuse began on Townsend’s second visit and continued before she told her parents that she did not want him to massage her anymore.
Claire Nicholls for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Townsend preyed on a vulnerable young female who he sexually assaulted for his own sexual gratification. He abused his position of trust and, under the guise of providing massages, he targeted and sexually assaulted his victim."
