I was delighted to be reunited with my biological dad… but then he sexually abused me and posted naked photos of me on Instagram
A TEENAGER has revealed how a dream reunion with her biological father turned into a nightmare after he locked her in his home and sexually abused her - for over a year.
Stephanie Dearsley was 14 years old when she reconnected with her birth dad, Barry Jackson, 38, after tracking him down via Facebook. But just months later he began abusing her.
Stephanie, now 17, said: “Your dad is supposed to protect you no matter what - but mine turned out to be a monster.
"He locked me in his house and abused me constantly for 16 months. He used me as his plaything.
"He also uploaded hundreds of naked images of me on his Instagram. I was horrified."
In February this year, Jackson was jailed for 13 years after pleading guilty to a number of sexual offences.
Now Stephanie, from Hastings, East Sussex, has waived her anonymity to reveal her dad’s sordid abuse, explaining how she was a virgin when he "forced himself upon her".
“From the age of five, I knew I was adopted," she said. "In June 2015 on my 14th birthday, my adoptive parents gave me dozens of letters from my biological parents and I decided to reach out to them.
"I was desperate to know the people who made me.”
That night Stephanie logged onto Facebook and found her dad’s profile. She messaged him and the pair swapped numbers, arranging to meet the following day. At the time Barry lived only 20 miles away from her home.
Stephanie continued: “When I saw my dad for the first time, it was very emotional.
“Later that day he took me to see my mum Julie*, 48.
“They told me they weren’t together anymore, but were still good friends.
“There were lots of tears and I found out I had four siblings and a half-brother.
“They apologised for giving me up and I honestly felt like a huge gap had been filled in my life.”
Soon, Stephanie and her dad were inseparable.
He offered her a job at the boating lake he managed - and they saw each other every day.
Three months later, in September, he took her on holiday to Scotland.
There, he treated her to clothes, perfume and cash.
She continued: “Every night he took me out to dinner. I was on cloud nine.”
A few weeks later Barry asked Stephanie to move in with him but her adoptive parents thought it was too soon.
Stephanie continued: “But I was defiant and packed a bag and left for my dad’s. At first it was great.
“Most nights we’d cook dinner together and sit together on the sofa watching films.
“But within weeks, everything changed.
“One morning as I made breakfast, Dad walked into the kitchen and squeezed my bum.
“I was shocked and slapped his hand away.
“He told me it was just a bit of harmless fun.
“I hoped it was a one off.”
But one day, after arriving home from school, he groped Stephanie again - this time touching her breasts.
I told the operator that my dad had been abusing me and that he’d probably do it again later that night.
Stepanie Dearsley
She said: “His behaviour was odd and I started to panic. Then the next night he asked me to sleep in his bedroom - telling me he was scared of the dark.”
Three days before her 15th birthday in December 2015 Barry came home drunk and tried to kiss his daughter.
Before she could protest, he pinned her to the living room floor, pulling at her underwear. Then he forced himself inside her.
Stephanie continued: “It was so painful. I was a virgin and couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Horrified, I lay there numb. Afterwards he went upstairs without a word.”
The next morning Stephanie confronted her dad. But he threatened to hurt her family if she told anyone.
After that, Stephanie never went to school again.
She said: “I felt ashamed and was too scared to tell anyone what happened.
“And the next 16 months were hell.
“Dad would abuse me whenever he wanted and I became his plaything.
“Most days while he went out to work he’d lock me in the house.
“I fantasised about escaping but I was terrified he’d catch me trying to leave.”
Then one day in January 2017, Stephanie couldn’t take the abuse anymore and called the police.
She said: “I told the operator that my dad had been abusing me and that he’d probably do it again later that night.
“I gave them my address and waited.”
Shortly afterwards, Barry forced himself on Stephanie.
Thankfully the police arrived, breaking the door down while her dad was still on top of her.
He was arrested at the scene.
Stephanie revealed her dad’s abuse at the police station with the support of her adoptive parents.
She says: “Barry called me a liar and continued to deny all the charges against him.
“While we waited for the trial, I discovered he’d uploaded thousands of naked pictures of me on Instagram. There were images of me sleeping and in the shower. It was disgusting.
“I had no idea he’d taken them.”
It was so painful. I was a virgin and couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Horrified, I lay there numb. Afterwards he went upstairs without a word.
Stephanie Dearsley
In December 2017 Barry Jackson, 38, of Maiden Newton, Dorchester, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child family member and three counts of distributing child pornography.
He was sentenced to 13 years in prison at Hove Crown Court in February of this year.
Stephanie said: “With the support of my adoptive parents I faced him in court to show him he hadn’t broken me.
“I’m relieved he’s now behind bars and can no longer hurt me.
“Since the trial I’m trying to move on with my life.
“I’m just thankful I escaped his abuse when I did.”
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