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.
WONDERS of the world have been transformed into their mini-versions in a seven-year round the world adventure .
NEW DELHI, A woman activist of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party crosses a police barricade near the residence of ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi during a protest against the recent rape of a five-year-old girl in New Delhi, India, April 21, 2013 .
WEARING tiny Christmas accessories, these adorable babies get into the spirit of the season .
FLYING through the air, these delighted pooches pull their best poses mid-flight .
As sunlight cascades through its vibrant stained glass windows, every inch of the Nasir-ol-Mulk Mosque bursts with colour .
A fox takes a tumble and lands on his head when he tries to fend off a pair of eagles in Japan .
PERCHED on a branch, these two frogs hold hands as they look into the camera .
WITH his spiked ears and yellow and blue body, a colourful monkey bears an uncanny resemblance to Marvel Comics’ Wolverine .
A little caterpillar fearlessly scampers down a branch and confronts a praying mantis .
ARM extended and head flung back, this little chipmunk performs a loose-limbed yoga move .
THEIR gnarling teeth at the ready, these two baboons fight it out for the last piece of fruit .
THIS is the EXPLOSIVE moment when a 50 metre high pylon came crashing down to earth in a rural field .