LIVING in fear of abuse at the hands of complete strangers was an everyday occurrence for Kimberly Hodson.

For many years she felt like a prisoner in her own home and, when she did build up the courage to step foot outside of the safety of her property in Latchford, she was targeted time and time again.

She said: “The struggles I had to deal with were horrible. No-one should have to go through what I went through.

“It was frightening.

“One time I was walking down the street and a complete stranger spat in my face.

“That’s inhumane. It’s disgusting.”

To mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week, the 50-year-old has bravely shared her journey after living with gender dysphoria from an early age.

“I have always known since I was very young,” she said.

“I was married for 10 years and I used to wear women’s underwear.

“Walking in heels and make-up was something that came naturally to me.”

But it was only in 2008 that Kimberly decided to open up to a close friend about the secret she had kept bottled up for many years.

After building up the courage to share her feelings about her true identity, Kimberly, who grew up in Burtonwood, quickly realised that some people were not as accepting of her decision. 

Her home was repeatedly targeted with eggs and stones and her windows were smashed.

After suffering in silence for many years, Kimberly finally contacted the police and she has never looked back.

With the assistance of officers at Cheshire Police, Kimberly was moved to her new home in Bewsey and one of the perpetrators was hauled before the courts for criminal damage.

After two years of counselling under the Gender Identity Clinic in London and a number of surgical procedures, Kimberly is now the happiest she has been. 

“It was like I had jumped out of a box that I have been trapped in,” she said.

“After the operation it was like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

“I feel fantastic. I have a constant smile on my face. 

“I am beaming from ear to ear.

“I am so happy.”

Her new-found confidence gave her a much-needed boost to compete in Miss Sparkle 2017.

Now she hopes to inspire other hate crime victims to come forward to bring those who commit this type of abuse to justice.

“Don’t sit there and suffer in silence,” she said.

“If I can help one person then that is one person who is better off.

“That’s why I have shared my journey along the way to help others.

“If they want advice or just someone to talk to they can contact a local group called Trans*Warrington.”

Call the support group on 07792 234867 or visit trans 
warrington.com.

AS part of Hate Crime Awareness Week, officers in Warrington have joined forces with Network Warrington to spread the message that this type of offence will not be tolerated. 

Posters are on display on buses explaining how you can report hate crime and a policing with pride car has been travelling around the town.

Cheshire Police’s CI Sarah Pengelly, who chairs the Hate Crime Partnership in Warrington, said: “The partnership is a multi-agency group made up of people from our communities and services in Warrington, all of who are committed to the vision.

“They are committed to a Warrington where diversity and difference is celebrated, where hate crime is actively challenged and where all communities feel safe.”

Any victims of hate crime are urged to call officers at Cheshire Police.

Call 101 or in an emergency dial 999.