Tragic Gaia Pope was terrified of seeing ringleader of gang who assaulted her at 17 on his release from jail, her dad reveals
TRAGIC Gaia Pope was tormented by the thought of seeing a gang leader who assaulted her when she was 17, her devastated dad has been revealed.
The 19-year-old was left suffering PTSD after being abused and was terrified her attacker was going to be released from jail when she vanished on November 7.
The student's body has now been found close to cliffs near Swanage, Dorset, with cops ruling out murder.
Her dad Richard Sutherland revealed Gaia, who suffered from epilepsy, was agonised by the assault by the group of men when she was 17.
It is understood the fiends were jailed but traumatised Gaia believed the ringleader was due for release — and feared she would come face-to-face with him again.
Richard, 57, said: “This had a devastating effect. I think this had been coming back into her head. She was scared, confused.”
Her older sister Clara Pope- Sutherland confirmed on Facebook she was living in fear “the abuser would be released from jail”.
Gaia's aunt, Hannah Sutherland, told the : "There was a traumatic incident a couple of years ago and some people were convicted – not for that incident, but there was a conviction.
"And because of her epilepsy, prior to a seizure she could get very anxious and that was apparently part of what came out as some of the anxiety.
"She was anxious there could potentially be some parole or something coming up."
Gaia's behaviour had become increasingly erratic in the days leading up to her disappearance and she had shown up the home of her friend’s grandmother in a “distressed and agitated state”.
The gran, Rosemary Dinch, 71, was later arrested on suspicion of murder along with her grandson Nathan Elsey, 19, and her son — Nathan’s uncle — Paul Elsey, 49.
They were later released under investigation and Dorset Police have now confirmed a post-mortem “has not identified any injuries to suggest any other person was involved”.
They are now awaiting toxicology results.
Questions have now been raised over the force's handling of the case, with Rosemary's ex-husband Greg Elsey hitting out at the "witch hunt".
He said last night: “My first thoughts are always with Gaia but the police have put us through hell.
“They could have called us to say that no one else was involved but we’ve heard nothing.”
Gaia's body was discovered on Saturday afternoon after a massive police hunt was launched.
Clothing positively identified as belonging to the teen was found on Thursday - close to where her body would later be discovered.
Speaking for the first time after the tragic discovery, her mother Natasha Pope told the : "The world is a darker place without my Gaia."
Gaia's twin sister, Maya, spoke of her heartbreak and vowed to "make her so proud".
Floral tributes have begun to be left on the Alfred Monument, next to the sea front.
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