A YOUNG woman has described how her life has been torn apart since her mum’s partner targeted her in a sickening sexual assault.

Megan Lavigne has waived her right to anonymity to bravely speak out about the impact of Michael Brady’s attack.

The DJ, of Hindle Avenue, videoed himself sexually assaulting the 22-year-old as she slept in her own bed in February 2017.

READ: "I just didn't want to be alive anymore' - dad-of-two on how he fought back from the brink

She said: “It’s something that I will have to live with for the rest of my life, and I don’t think he’s sorry at all for what he’s done.

“It’s draining, and it’s hard - it’s just confusing.

“I’ve not been sleeping properly, and my anxiety is through the roof.

“I can’t walk to work in the morning, I have sleep paralysis and nightmares all the time.

“It has affected me a lot, and I still don’t think he understands what he’s done.”

Brady was jailed for four years at Liverpool Crown Court last month after admitting sexual assault, voyeurism and unauthorised access to data.

Warrington Guardian:

Michael Brady

The court heard that the 41-year-old may have sexually assaulted her ‘up to 10 or 11 times’ in the months leading up to this attack while living in the family home in Dallam.

He also hacked into his victim’s phone and emailed himself explicit pictures of her.

But Megan has been forced to leave home and has lost all contact with her family, as Brady remains in a relationship with her mum.

She told the court that she felt ‘lost and broken’ and that she had even attempted to take her own life.

Megan added: “I don’t speak to any of my family anymore - I’m now on my own for something that wasn’t my fault, something that shouldn’t have happened to me.

“I used to be really close with my mum, but she doesn’t speak to me at all anymore.

“She’s stuck by his side and she’s still not contacted me over it, and that’s affected me quite a bit.

“I still wonder what I have done wrong to deserve this.

“My mum never believed me - I told her what had happened before I rang the police, but she made excuses for him.

“He is manipulative and it still doesn’t feel like it’s over - I have no answers to my questions.”

Megan, who is now living on her own in Gorse Covert, hopes that speaking out will help other victims of sexual offences to come forward.

She also had special praise for the police officers who supported her while Brady was brought to justice, adding: “The support that I had was great throughout.

“PC Nicky Halliwell would call me, even when she wasn’t working, to make sure I was ok which put me at ease.

“She picked me up on her day off and took me to court in Liverpool.

“I don’t think I would have been able to do it without her.

“Hopefully this will help other to speak up about it, because it is hard.”

And PC Halliwell praised Megan for her bravery throughout her ordeal.

She said: “She has shown patience and dignity throughout the investigation.

“I am extremely proud of her, and she should be extremely proud of herself.

“The courage and strength that she has shown throughout such a traumatic experience is nothing short of inspirational, and I would hope that this result goes some way in assisting her to gain some form of closure so she may move on with her life.”

His honour judge Thomas Teague also handed Brady an indefinite restraining order, preventing him from contacting Megan.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge and subjected to a lifelong notification requirement.

Sentencing, judge Teague told Brady: “You have shown no insight into your offending or lamented the effects on your victim.

“In my judgement, you have no genuine remorse.

“I’m told that you regret the effects your actions have had on your victim’s life - I regard that as sheer humbug.”