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.
Southern England, the south-west and west Wales have been warned to expect more wild weather, with heavy rain and high tides possibly leading to coastal flooding and travel disruption over the weekend .
SNUGGLED up in the hay away from the elements, this adorable hoglet has sought solace with a familiar friend .
POPE MOBBED BY THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPPERS IN RIO - Thousands of worshippers gather to celebrate the Papal visit on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro ,Brazil .
A BUMPER season of births has left zoo with three of the cutest exotic kittens you're likely to see .
From squids to Star Wars, these flipping marvellous creations are pancake portraits .
Balanced on one leg, a frog assumes the crane kick martial arts stance made famous in the movie The Karate Kid .
LEAPING for joy five-feet above the waves this baby whale cutie is saying HELLO to its family after being lost .
TENNIS was a game made for three according to the first Victorian rule book .
HOTSPOT MEDIA - MILEY MASH-UP: MILEY CYRUS’ naked wrecking ball vid has been lampooned in this side-spitting photo-mashup .
A cheeky owl fancies a game of hide and seek as it peeps out from behind a tree .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .
Leaping out of the ocean, a group of gentoo penguins fly through the air before landing safely on an iceberg .