'The shame I have felt I have carried with me' says victim

BEHIND a metal screen, the two women sat together holding hands.

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The only sounds heard were the sniffles of their cries.

Then they began.

Both were victims of the most depraved behaviour by someone they thought they could trust.

Instead, Christopher Oates exploited them and encouraged them to work in the sex trade for him.

They were vulnerable, one had a troubled home life resulting in her living in care, the other was homeless and had issues with drugs and alcohol.

He manipulated one girl into thinking he was her boyfriend. The other he dropped off at the red light district once a week.

Oates targeted them, abused them and forced them into a disturbing world. When one of the girls said she wanted to go home, he held a gun to her head.

Nearly 20 years later, both women sat together, strong in the face of evil.

Reading their victim impact statements, they outlined the horrific impact of the abuse they had suffered.

Neither woman can be identified for legal reasons.

In tears, the first woman said: "These crimes happened to me when I was 14. For 16 years it has been a secret.

"The shame I have felt, I have carried it with me.

"Knowing everybody knows what happened to me makes me feel sick and embarrassed. It has stuck with me all these years. I suffer from mental health problems and have been diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression.

"My body is constantly stuck in fight or flight.

"I am extremely distrustful of authority and services. I have problems with short and long-term memory loss. I have flashbacks and nightmares.