Swindon woman speaks out after scout leader stepfather jailed for sexual abuse

Now, 34-year-old Stephanie Lawson is speaking out publicly about the 18 month campaign of abuse she faced daily at Ian Dallow’s hands, urging other victims of abuse to come forward and report perpetrators to police.

On Friday her stepfather, a 55-year-old former Scout leader, was sentenced to four years and two months in jail for 10 counts of sexual assault committed over an 18 month campaign of terror.

Ian Dallow Picture: WILTSHIRE POLICE

The abuse, which started when Stephanie was 15, happened on a daily basis and only stopped when the former Hreod Parkway School pupil plucked up the courage to tell her mother about the assaults.

Now living in Bristol with fiancée Rachael Hooper, 32, and her 11-year-old stepson, full-time carer Stephanie described watching her abuser being sent to prison as surreal: “I feel empowered. When that sort of abuse happens you feel as though you haven’t got any control. It feels like I have that control now.”

She said the abuse had started almost immediately after she came out as bisexual to her stepfather. Stephanie suspects Dallow was trying to force her into being straight.

Stephanie Lawson said it took 18 years for her to finally pluck up the courage to talk to police Picture: STEPHANIE LAWSON/WILTSHIRE POLICE

Before the sexual assaults began, Stephanie was a happy and bubbly teenager. But the abuse has had long term affects and led her to turn to drink in an attempt to handle her feelings. She was training to be a chef at Swindon College and, to this day, says she struggles to prepare meals because cooking is a trigger for her feelings.

She said: “His abuse destroyed my trust and belief in the world. My lack of trust in people has affected my friendships and relationships all my life.

“He was someone I loved as a father, trusted and looked up to. I will never be able to fully trust anyone again. He should have protected me from bad things and now I never truly feel ok or safe. Each day is a struggle for me and I feel like I have lived in a prison in my mind since I was 15 years old.”

It took Stephanie 18 years to come forward and report the abuse to police. Her mum had told her she would lose her family if she spoke to detectives.

She says it was only after moving away to Bristol three-years-ago and with the support of her partner that she was able to testify against her stepfather and follow the case through the courts.

She wants others who have suffered similar experiences to come forward and report their abusers to police.

Stephanie says she was a happy, bubbly child before the abuse began Picture: STEPHANIE LAWSON/WILTSHIRE POLICE

“I want victims of abuse to know they can speak out. What’s happening to them is despicable. They are not the bad ones. They can speak out and they can have a future,” she said.

“Obviously, the effect of the abuse is never going to go away. But what’s happening or what’s happened is not their fault, they can build a life and survive.”

Dallow, 55, of Northbourne Road, St Andrew’s Ridge, who is understood to have left the Scouting movement in 2014, pleaded guilty to all ten charges of indecent assault and was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court.

A judge ordered him to the sex offender register for life. PC Laura Barwood of Central CID praised Stephanie for her bravery in coming forward: “Her story proves that no matter how long abuse has taken place, it is always worth reporting it to someone you trust - whether that is the police, a friend or family member, or a charity. Please speak to someone.”

Victims should call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Information can be reported anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111. First Light Sexual Assault Referral Centre can be contacted on 01793 781916 or by visiting: firstlight.org.uk