I was abused by school bus driver at 13 and he even moved into our house & baked my guinea pig

AT first glance, Liz Hubbuck appears to have life figured out: she has a gorgeous home, two loving sons, a close group of pals and a job that allows her to fulfil her dream of helping young people.

- JESSICA BOULTON

But it has taken extraordinary grit and determination for the mum to be able to live her "normal" life.

For Liz was a child grooming victim sexually abused by her 32-year-old school bus driver from the age of 13.

Over two years the man known to her as Andy Robinson manipulated her both emotionally and physically, forcing her to perform depraved sex acts to prove she "loved" him and engaging her in role play so he could "pretend" to "rape" her.

The master manipulator weaselled his way into every inch of her life, even moving in to her family's home.

And then one day Liz came home from school to find her guinea pig Cookie lying dead on a baking tray inside their oven.

She says: "Every day, even now, I only have to open the oven and I get a flashback. I adored that little fur ball, I told him everything. The cruelty was unfathomable." To Liz, Cookie's death shows how her abuser stripped her of everything he could: her innocence, her confidence, her relationship with her mum, and even her pet and sole confidant.

Left with nothing, Liz could have headed down a very dark path. But instead she refused to let the monster's actions define her.

She is sharing her story in a new book, Hear Me, as a message of hope to other young victims.

Liz, now 45 and living in Hampshire, says: "Don't get me wrong, I'm still scared that he could be out there somewhere watching me. But my close friends all say they can't believe I've turned out so 'well' and 'normal' after all I have been through.