My vile brother has been jailed for abusing children – he abused me until I was in my early 20s

DEAR DEIDRE: MY vile brother has been sentenced to 20 years for abusing children under the age of five and abusing me until I was in my early 20s.

I am a 30-year-old single woman. My brother is 37.

He abused me when no one else was around, usually when our parents were working and my other siblings were out.

For years I kept it to myself because I didn’t feel anyone would believe me.

I was so ashamed and I thought I’d be blamed.

Traumatised and depressed, I drank too much and even tried to take my own life once.

MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE

DEAR DEIDRE

My wife got promoted and now she's having an affair with her boss

SO ASHAMED

My brother abused me - now he's has been jailed for abusing other kids

It was only when my brother was caught that I could tell my family and the police what had happened to me.

I think I need to talk to a counsellor, but I don’t know where to begin.

DEIDRE SAYS: I am so sorry to hear this.

While nothing can change what happened to you, justice can help survivors to move on.

Contact The Survivors Trust (thesurvivorstrust.org 08088 010 818) for support.

My pack Abused As A Child will help you too.