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.
From a floating jelly fish to a relaxed seal, Britain’s unappreciated beach life is captured above and below the water .
A luxury caravan with a price tag of ONE MILLION DOLLARS is due to hit the road later this year .
BRAIDED, sculpted and beaded, these are the eye-catching hairstyles worn by the tribal women of Angola .
ESCAPING A LANDFILL FUTURE, these amazing science fiction inspired sculptures are made from everyday objects .
WIDE EYED with a huge smile across her face, this little elephant is a picture of happiness .
HUNDREDS of colour coordinated yarns lie abandoned in this once thriving textile mill .
A project to create an underwater tribute to the stone Moai statues of Easter Island ended in disaster when 15 replica structures were destroyed after toppling from a boat and into the sea .
A brave praying mantis makes an unusual friend in an Oriental garden lizard .
SURROUNDED by a snowstorm, these young polar bears battle the elements - as well as each other .
A little clownfish opens its mouth to reveal a blood sucking intruder living on its tongue .
THIS is the fascinating abandoned house, complete with mystery portraits and homely items, that has been dubbed - crooked cottage .
LYING back in the snow, these two polar bears share a cuddle as they call time out on playtime .