North Yorkshire abuse survivor hopes poem will encourage victims to come forward

Tilly originally wrote the poem to help her parents understand her feelings

A girl who was sexually assaulted by a teacher in North Yorkshire hopes a poem she has written may encourage others to report abuse.

Tilly was 14 when she was abused by a male teacher, who was later convicted and jailed.

The poem has been developed into a video animation by North Yorkshire Police.

It has been shared on social media and will also be shown by liaison officers in secondary schools.

"I think it's just knowing that you're going to be believed, hearing it from someone else," the teenager said.

"It's good for people to see that others are going through the same thing and that they can open up about it."

The poem says her "once open loving heart was destroyed... Someone I trusted turned out to be a monster".

But she adds: "I'm slowly getting stronger every day, you did not destroy or defeat me."

Tilly showed the poem to her parents to try to help them understand her feelings after giving evidence against her abuser.

'Hugely powerful'

Her mother said: "It was a relief to think that she'd been able to let the words out and share some of it.

"I didn't want her keeping these words locked inside forever."

Det Supt Graeme Wright, head of safeguarding for North Yorkshire Police, said: "It's hugely powerful and knowing something of the investigation, I was genuinely really moved by it.

"Tilly has been subjected to the most appalling crime and to take that experience and try and use it as a force for good is something you can't help but be so impressed by."

If you are affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations that can help via the BBC Action line.