FACING up to what happened to her as a teenager has been the hardest thing Stephanie Wright has ever had to do.

But, after seeing her 57-year-old stepfather jailed for the years of sexual abuse he inflicted on her as a youngster, she says reporting it has been absolutely worth it.

On Thursday, Stewart Beddall, of Hinton Crescent in Appleton, was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for four counts of indecent assault and two counts of rape.

She says her partner, friends and some family have been a constant source of support, although she no longer speaks to her mum.

Stephanie, who used to have her stepfather's surname, says: "I was told not to sit in on the verdict, so my partner went instead. When he came back and got to the door my legs just went, I thought he was going to say he had got off.

"I just started screaming with joy, you have such a feeling of relief and closure. Even though I still need counselling it just felt like a massive weight had been lifted off me.

"I felt 20 feet tall, and that I could hold my head up high."

The 25-year-old has decided to waive her anonymity to tell her story in the hope that others who might have suffered something similar will have the courage to report it.

"I am not doing this for compensation or for praise but for justice. So people know what he has done."

The beauty therapist decided to go to the police last October after becoming a mum herself. She said: "One day I will have to explain things to my son and I didn't want him saying, why didn't you do something about it?

"When I had him and I experienced the unconditional love you feel for your child I started to think, what about me, what about my self respect?

"I also read a book, The Little Prisoner, which really inspired me and gave me hope that I could do something about it.

"The more I came out with what had happened, the reaction was shocking, people were saying they knew something wasn't right.

"It will never go away but I know now that it wasn't my fault.

"It is not right what he did to me, but it's no longer about what he did, but the fact he took away my childhood, my family and my home.

"He basically took my life as a child away from me."

His attacks started when she was 14 years old, and became a daily occurrence.

"He groomed me, he'd say I was daddy's little girl and the golden child. He made me feel as though I could not live without him and he tried to keep me young.

"I just wish I had recognised what he was doing earlier, but when I did I started to push him away. He would try and make me feel guilty and threaten me and use my mum and family against me."

She moved out of the family home at 19 and for a time moved away from Warrington to prove she could break away from him, "I wanted to show him, I can make it without you."

She had to give evidence in court twice after an earlier trial at Knutsford Crown Court collapsed because of a jury member. But she says the experience was far better than she had feared because of the support of CPS staff and her barrister who backed her all the way.

And she says, if anyone is going through the same thing and wants to report it: "Just tell someone, tell someone you trust.

"It gives you so much strength and shows you are a fighter.

"Don't let them get away with it."

If you have suffered a similar experience and want to speak to someone in confidence you can call the Relationship Centre helpline on 08007839636.

Alternatively you can call the Crimestoppers hotline, also in confidence, on 0800 555111.