WHEN Gill Paylor moved out of her family home at the age of 18 she thought she would finally be free of her sick stepdad.
Richard Williams had been sexually abusing Gill, now 44, from the age of 14 and she was desperate to escape his reign of terror.
Gill Paylor was abused by her stepdad from the age of 14 Credit: True Life Stories
She says that Richard Williams would target her when her mum was out of the house Credit: True Life Stories
Only to her horror Williams continued to show up at her door until she was 23 and Gill, from Hartlepool, County Durham thought she would die with her secret.
The abuse only ended when Gill met her husband, Sean Paylor, 39, leaving Williams unable to prey on her any longer.
Although Gill had tried to move on from her past, she suffered with PTSD over the years and attempted to take her own life numerous times whilst raising her children.
But her husband helped his wife come forward, inspiring him to become a police officer and now, Williams has been sentenced to 28 years.
Williams was sentenced for 28 years in September 2023 Credit: Cleveland Police
Gill hoped that moving out would see an end to Williams’ abuse but he targeted her in her home Credit: True Life Stories
Gill, a support worker, says “I spent half of my life being groomed and abused by a predator. But now, I have my life back and it’s his turn to suffer.
“I want to let other women, especially wives and mums, know that no matter how old you are, it’s never too late to reach out and get justice.”
In 1990, Gill was nine when her stepdad, Williams, moved into the family home after meeting her mum.
Growing up, she never had a father figure and found Williams to be attentive and loving at first.
Gill says: “But Richard became more touchy-feely over the years, wanting to tickle me or play fight.
“Then one afternoon, when I was 14 years old, Mum was at work and Richard came into my bedroom.
How to report a sexual assault
- Contact a doctor or practice nurse at your GP surgery.
- Contact a voluntary organisation, such as Rape Crisis , Women’s Aid , Victim Support , The Survivors Trust or Male Survivors Partnership .
- Call the 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge , on 0808 2000 247.
- Speak to the rape and sexual abuse support line run by Rape Crisis England and Wales – you can call the helpline on 0808 500 2222 or use the online chat (both are free and are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year).
“He began feeling my breasts, and put his hands inside my trousers. He told me it was what people did when they loved each-other.
“Scared and confused, I stayed silent. After he left, I told myself it must be normal and didn’t tell anyone. I thought it was what dads did.”
After that, Williams preyed on Gill whenever her mum was at work and three months later, he raped her.
Gill says: “Richard took my virginity. He told me I was his special girl and that he’d do anything for me. He made me feel loved.
“But as I got older, I started to realise it was wrong and questioned whether I was being abused.
“He’d normalised it for so long, I didn’t know what to believe.”
Meanwhile, Williams warned Gill never to tell her mum and that no-one would believe her.
As Gill got older, she fell into a deep depression as the abuse worsened.
Gill says the nine years of abuse came to an end when she met her now husband Sean at 23 Credit: True Life Stories
Gill wants to encourage other survivors to seek justice Credit: True Life Stories
Gill says: “I felt trapped and isolated.
“After each sexual assault, I buried my head in the sand, and told myself none of it was happening.
“He became controlling too, never letting me see friends and have boyfriends.”
Desperate to escape, Gill moved out in 2010 when she was 18.
Meanwhile, Williams got a new job as a taxi-driver.
Gill says: “When I got a flat of my own, it was my fresh start. I hoped to never see Richard again.
“But just days later, as I was unpacking and settling into my new place, I heard a knock.
“It was Richard. He towered over me and came inside.
“In my new flat, with my new life, he started abusing me again. I was terrified.”
Over the years, Williams told Gill’s mum he was popping in for a cup of tea to visit her, or he’d visit her mid taxi shifts.
Gill says: “Richard would wait outside my place, and never let me go out. My mental health hit an all-time low.
“I thought I’d die with my secret. I wanted everything to end.”
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org , 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org , 116 123
But in 2005, Gill met her husband, Sean, through mutual friends in Hartlepool and the couple fell madly in love.
After six months together, Gill came clean to Sean about the abuse going on.
Gill says: “Sean held me tight, and was heartbroken. But I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was Richard.
“Especially since he went on to meet him through family things. By then, Sean and I never spent a day apart, so Richard’s visits stopped.
“And at the age of 23, I was no longer his victim after nearly a decade.
“When I felt like giving up, Sean helped me see the light. He gave me a new lease of life.”
Over the years, Gill and Sean went on to have two daughters together, Brooke, 19 and Maddison, 13.
Years later, Williams and Gill’s mum split so she never saw him again.
Gill says: “Eventually Sean also found out Richard was my abuser all along.
“Sean was sickened and hated him. He continued giving me the support I needed.
“Although, no matter how hard I tried to move on, my past haunted me.
“When I was in my 30s, Sean and I married. But even with a loving husband, and two great kids, I suffered with crippling PTSD.
“I had constant nightmares of Richard, and attempted suicide a few times.”
In July 2018, Gill had a mental breakdown at home.
With her blessing, Sean phoned the police and made the police report on her behalf.
Gill says: “The police dealt with me with such care, and most importantly, I was believed.
“It was like the world was lifted from my shoulders. Sean felt so inspired by me, he decided to become a police officer in 2022, at the age of 35.
“He wanted to help people, especially survivors like me. I loved him even more for it.”
The next year, in August 2023, Richard Williams, 61,of Hartlepool, was found guilty of six counts of rape, and two counts of indecent assault against Gill at Teesside Crown Court.
In September 2023, he was sentenced to 28 years.
Gill says: “Sean took the stand and gave evidence. But when Richard went up, he lied through his teeth, telling the jury it was all consensual.
“It was awful, but I felt strength I’d never had before. I was no longer a victim; I was a survivor.
“Now, I’m relieved as Richard will probably die in jail. I’m also finally healing and moving forward with my life.
“I don’t speak to my mum anymore.
“But I have my children, and Sean, who has been my absolute rock and he saved me.
“To other survivors out there, if I can do it, so can you. Please don’t suffer in silence anymore. It was never your fault and you will be believed.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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