Kaitlin pictured aged nine - Heart pounding, Kaitlin Womack stared in shock at a Facebook post on her phone. In that moment, a horrifying memory from her childhood came flooding back. It was 2016, and her former neighbour, Kert Birtwistle, 29, had been convicted of child sexual offences. Seeing his face on her screen knocked Kaitlin, 25, for six. Because what nobody knew was that she’d been harbouring an awful secret since the age of nine. Birtwistle had subjected Kaitlin to three sickening sexual assaults while she played at his house as a child, including touching her privates under her swimming costume. Three years later, in 2019, Kaitlin, from Preston, reported Birtwistle to the police. When she did, six other victims also bravely came forward. In October 2024, Birtwistle, from Blackpool, was convicted of 14 charges, including rape and sexual assault. He was jailed for 12 years at Preston Crown Court. His brother, Jordan Wright, 28, also pleaded guilty to 18 sexual offences and was jailed for over 16 years. Now, Kaitlin is courageously waiving her right to anonymity to help encourage other survivors to report their abusers to the police.
It's incredible to think anyone could live in such horrendous squalor - yet two men have been prosecuted for keeping their homes in such revolting conditions that it was no longer fit for their animals .
This is the moment a nimble red fox and a lumbering Alaskan brown bear were locked in a tense stand-off .
FROM A mini table and chairs to a detailed violin, it’s hard to believe these incredible sculptures are all carved into the nib of PENCILS .
A panic stricken kitten that got her head stuck in a car tyre has been freed by quick thinking RSPCA staff .
ALL IS not as it seems in these deceptive cityscapes .
An adorable orangutan named Pongo celebrates his first birthday at Zoo Atlanta, Georgia, America .
A Canadian couple celebrated their engagement by recreating iconic moments from the film The Notebook .
A DETERMINED great blue heron holds on tightly to its prey as the furry gopher attempts to wriggle free .
MEET the little lion of suburbia with a mane that makes him look like a mini-king of the jungle .
LIKE A living balloon this baitball of sardines is ready to burst when threatened by a pointy nosed sailfish .
