Victim hopes her story will inspire others they can get justice

She still suffers from the physical and sexual abuse he handed out to her when she was a child more than 30 years ago.

But after her long fight for justice that involved her twice having to go through the ordeal of giving evidence against him, she was in court to see him given a 17-year extended prison sentence.

"It is absolutely amazing. I cannot believe it," she said afterwards.

She said she had been "absolutely petrified" of "evil" Sawyer and thought there was no-one who could help her.

"It was such a dark place," she said. "You think you never going to be able to see justice.

"I just hope my story will help, even if it just encourages one person to hope that you can get justice and that there are people out there who can help you," she said. "You just need to have that glimmer of hope."

Among the frustrations she suffered was knowing that Sawyer was leading a normal life.

"I am never going to get my childhood back," she said. "It (the abuse) will never go away, but now I know I have done something about it."

She managed to talk to the police three years ago and she is full of praise and thanks for the support her family, including her adult children, the police, charities and other organisations, gave her in the long legal struggle that followed.

For a time she feared Sawyer would never stand trial because of his poor health, but last September, more than 18 months after his first appearance before York Crown Court, she finally had her moment in court.

When the first jury failed to reach verdicts on the sexual abuse, she realised she would have to give evidence and be cross-examined again.

"I was really worried about going through it a second time," she said. But with the unwavering support of her family, she found the courage to keep going. Last May, she again gave evidence against Sawyer, and the second jury convicted.

"It's an outcome I have only been able to dream about," she said.