For one of Robert Clark's victims, the trauma of the abuse he suffered as a child pushed him to the brink of death.

Gerry Brady, who waived his right to anonymity following yesterday's court case to talk exclusively to the T&A, hid the truth for 10 years before going to the police.

He said: "The shame almost tore me apart. It destroyed me as a person. It took me to the edge of my limits and more than once I slashed my wrists.

"I became an alcoholic and tried so hard to block it out of my mind, but I couldn't. I staggered from one disaster to another and dabbled with drugs.

"I thought about the people I loved and what the truth would do to them. I blamed myself and I had nowhere to go."

The 24-year-old, who was just 13 when the abuse began, tried to put his ordeal to the back of his mind.

He said: "Desperate to move on, I got married and moved to Ireland with my new wife, daughter and stepson. They knew nothing of my pain and I tried hard not to let it affect them.

"But the strain was too much. I came back to England and made a statement to the police. I would have gladly stood in any court and let a jury decide if I was telling the truth.

"Even if they didn't believe me I would finally have been able to tell my story. Clark thought he could silence me by pleading guilty.

"The stress of the court case has affected me in a way I can't put into words. Up until six months ago I was in a managerial position in a worldwide firm in charge of 30 people.

"Now I've lost my job and separated from my wife. I don't feel as if I've got justice - having said that I'm so relieved it is all over."

Another one of Clark's victims said: "I was 12 years old when it first started. Since then I've never been able to trust or feel close to anyone.

"He got two and a half years for what he did to me. That's not justice as far as I am concerned. Has Bobby ruined my life? I'll let people decide for themselves."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.