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A woman from Wrexham has shared how her father’s sexual abuse of her, which began when she was just four years old, was only brought to light following an unexpected chain of events involving a burglary. Lizzie Jones, now 49, endured years of abuse from her father, David Terrence Pethig, but kept the trauma hidden until a break-in led to his laptop being stolen. The burglar discovered thousands of indecent images on the device and alerted the police, initiating the process that would eventually reveal the full extent of his crimes.
Growing up, Lizzie lived in a household with her mother, younger brother, and father. She recalled how her father began abusing her at an early age, threatening that her mother would be harmed and taken away if she ever disclosed the truth. “I wanted to tell my mum for years and years, and I just couldn’t bring myself to tell her,” Lizzie explained. The abuse persisted until she was 15, with her mother often working long hours and unaware of what was happening. It was only after the burglary uncovered Pethig’s offending that Lizzie found the courage, aged 42, to confide in her mother, who encouraged her to involve the authorities.
In 2011, after the burglary exposed Pethig’s possession of over 8,500 images of child sexual abuse, he was reported to the police and admitted to multiple charges related to making and possessing indecent images. Although he avoided a prison sentence at that time, the revelations led to the divorce of Lizzie’s parents. Following her disclosure, Lizzie recalled her mother’s reaction and support: “My mum swore and she said ‘are you strong enough to tell the police?’ and I said ‘yes let’s do it.’” The investigation then moved forward with involvement from the Criminal Investigation Department.
Several years later, in February 2023, Pethig faced further charges including indecent assaults, rapes, an assault by penetration, and attempted serious sexual assault. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years in prison, along with an additional 12 months on extended licence. Lizzie reflected on her mother’s passing before the court case concluded and the mixed feelings she now experiences: “I have got all I wanted. I’ve got him locked up but it doesn’t take away all the memories.” She continues to grapple with the trauma, seeking help through therapy and expressing herself through writing poetry about her experiences
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