Victim of Ackworth Paedophile Speaks Out After 12-Year Sentence

The victim of a convicted paedophile, Mark William Allen, has spoken out about the lasting impact of his abuse, stating she is unsure if she will ever fully recover.

Allen, 31, was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Leeds Crown Court for the sustained abuse of the girl, which began in the early 2000s. The now 25-year-old victim, granted lifelong anonymity, shared her harrowing experience with the Express.

"My life has been so badly affected that I'm not sure I can ever move on from this, but at least I can rest better at night knowing he isn't able to harm any other children," she said. "I struggle day to day with severe anxiety disorder, depression and PTSD-like symptoms. I have been heavily medicated for some years due to the significant trauma I've sustained."

She described how Allen, a family friend, began acting "overly friendly" towards her when she was just six years old. This behaviour escalated over time, with Allen showering her with gifts and compliments.

By the time she was 11, Allen began coercing her into sexual abuse, which continued for three years. He threatened her into silence, claiming to be in love with her and warning her of the consequences if anyone found out.

"As a child I found it difficult to keep secrets from my family, knowing it was wrong but also wanting to protect the man that had by then become my 'boyfriend'," the victim said. "It sounds crazy now as an adult but it was such a difficult situation for a young girl to comprehend that I didn't really realise the ramifications of his actions until I was much older."

It was only in 2013, when she learned that Allen had been jailed for other sexual offences, that she found the courage to report her own experiences to the police.

Det Insp Vanessa Rolfe of the Wakefield District Child Safeguarding Team expressed satisfaction with Allen's substantial sentence, stating, "Allen committed some horrendous abuse against a very young and vulnerable victim and we are pleased this has been reflected in the substantial sentence he has received at court. He clearly poses a real danger to children and I hope his victim will take some comfort that he has been brought to justice and is answering for his crimes against her."