POSING for a picture with her new stepdad, little Rebekah Simpson’s smile hid a secret hell.
James Freeman, 53, wed Rebekah’s mum in 2014 and took care of her as her unwell mother was in and out of hospital.
Evil James Freeman preyed on his stepdaughter from the age of 10
Freeman raped and abused Rebekah for years
But behind closed doors, the manipulative monster preyed on the vulnerable schoolgirl and sexually abused her before raping her at family homes in Aberdeen and Banff, Aberdeenshire.
Rebekah, now 22, was targeted by depraved James Freeman, for the first time when she was just 10.
As the abuse continued, Freeman pushed and held the youngster down on a bed, tied her arms together, blindfolded her and raped her.
Rebekah, who bravely waived her right to anonymity, said: “He was supposed to be looking after me but abused that position.
“He got it into my head that if I said anything my mum would die and it would be my fault.”
It took five years of suffering at the hands of her monster stepdad before Rebekah worked up the courage to turn him in to the police.
She reported him to cops aged 15 and stayed with a foster family because she was too scared to go home, then moved to a care home for months.
She was disowned by her family and branded a liar when she spoke out.
Her mum even persuaded her to retract her statement so charges against Freeman were dropped.
She said: “He ruined my life. He took my childhood away from me.
“When I first told my family I felt no one believed me. Everyone sided with James, no one was there for me.
“I was called a liar and a whore.”
She added: “Mum didn’t believe anything I’d said. James told her I was a psychopath. She refused to take my calls or would just hang up on me.”
Rebekah finally got justice when she met future hubby Scott Simpson, who encouraged her to go back to police.
Her devastated mum also left Freeman and apologised to her daughter after Rebekah convinced her to listen in on a call where he confessed to the years of abuse.
Rebekah said: “My life is so much better now. I’m trying to build a better relationship with my mum, but it’s hard. Things will probably never be the same between us.”
Rebekah Simpson said she’s suffering a life sentence after her sick stepdad’s abuse
James Freeman was caged for seven years
Freeman – who laughed after a jury nailed him – was convicted of sexual assault and two rapes at the High Court in Aberdeen.
The beast, of Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, was jailed for just seven years in 2022.
He will also be supervised for three years once he is released and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for the rest of his life.
Passing sentence the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Simon Collins QC, said: “You were convicted of three charges of sexual assault following trial.
“Your actions showed that you groomed her and your actions also show that you are responsible for a gross and prolonged violation of the position of trust that you had found yourself in.
“Clearly a custodial sentence is the only appropriate disposal available to this court.”
This man has ruined my life and ripped my family apart.”
Rebekah Simpson
But Rebekah slammed the sentence handed to her rapist stepdad.
She said: “Justice has not been done. He should have been jailed for longer.
“I have to live with the life sentence he has given me but he will be out in just seven years, that’s not justice.
“He could easily be back out on the streets in a few years to get on with the rest of his life. It’s just not fair.
“I was told he would get a substantial sentence and this isn’t nearly large enough for what he has done. He deserves to go to prison but it should be for longer.
“It’s not good enough. This man has ruined my life and ripped my family apart.
“He took my innocence away and left me with painful physical medical conditions as well as the trauma of the abuse.
“I feel let down by this, it doesn’t feel like justice has been done.
“I have to live with all this for the rest of my life now – that’s my sentence – it will be with me forever.”
