A woman from Newport has courageously come forward to share her harrowing experiences of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her elder brother, highlighting the long-term and devastating effects such trauma can have. Shaun Lampitt, aged 51, was convicted at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court after his sister, Catherine Dixon, spoke out decades after the abuse began.
The abuse, which took place during the 1980s and 1990s, began when Ms Dixon was just nine years old. Lampitt, who was 15 at the time, subjected his young sibling to repeated sexual assaults, intimidation, and violence. The court heard that he not only raped her on multiple occasions but also threatened her life if she ever revealed the truth to anyone.
Despite denying all charges, Lampitt was found guilty of three counts of raping a child under the age of 13 following a jury trial. He has since been sentenced to four years in prison and is subject to a restraining order for five years and indefinite entry on the Sex Offenders Register.
Speaking openly about her experience, Catherine Dixon has waived her legal right to anonymity, explaining that she hopes her story will embolden other victims of sexual violence to come forward. “Shaun was my brother, he was supposed to protect me and look out for me, but he didn’t. He hurt me, he hit me and raped me. Just a little girl who was trying to find some comfort in her drawings. He took that away from me. He took my childhood away from me,” Ms Dixon said in her powerful statement.
Ms Dixon described how the trauma stole her innocence and cast a shadow over her entire childhood. “It was a living nightmare which I could not escape. I was just a little girl who had no one, scared and frightened,” she recalled, painting a stark picture of isolation and fear. Her testimony detailed the extreme impact on her mental health throughout her life, including attempts to take her own life and periods of self-harm.
The court was told that Lampitt was frequently controlling and abusive, sometimes forcing his sister to wash herself in front of him. On one occasion, he explained to her that he needed to understand sex because he had a girlfriend, a statement that served only to further Catherine’s confusion and distress.
Judge Daniel Williams, presiding over the case, addressed Lampitt during sentencing: “The effect of that which you did to her, lives with her every day.” He also highlighted that Lampitt’s actions were marked by “coercion, exploitation, and pressure”, and that the psychological harm inflicted upon the victim was profound and enduring.
In the aftermath of the sentencing, Detective Constable Sean Gough of Gwent Police praised the victim’s fortitude: “The victim in this case has shown remarkable bravery and resilience throughout the investigation, court proceedings, and by waiving her right to anonymity. I hope the outcome can be a stepping stone in helping Catherine process her experience and move forward as well as showing other victims of rape that they will be listened to, believed, and respected.”
Statutory anonymity protects victims of sexual violence in the UK, but Ms Dixon’s choice to share her identity and story marks a significant act of advocacy and hope for many who remain silent. She hopes her decision will inspire others to seek justice and healing. “Throughout my life I have struggled with what Shaun did to me and as result I tried taking my own life on a number of occasions and even self-harmed. I have overcome so many of these issues and I hope with justice I will be able to close this chapter and work on myself because I think I deserve it after a lifetime of pain,” she said.
Incidents of historical sexual abuse continue to emerge across the UK, with many victims only feeling able to report their experiences years, or even decades, later. Police and support organisations urge anyone affected by sexual violence to come forward, emphasising that there is support available and that every victim deserves to be heard.
Anyone wishing to report sexual abuse can do so by contacting their local police on 101, using the Gwent Police social media direct messaging service, or reaching out to Crimestoppers anonymously.