Claire’s mum has also spoken to the about the crimes against her daughter.
“It makes you feel like you’ve failed as a parent. She was in her bedroom scared and sending these pictures because he was threatening her and I knew nothing, if I’d know I could have stepped in,” she said.
“After it all came out we had to set alarms in the night to make sure she hadn’t done anything to herself. She just blamed and blamed herself.”
Claire says that the repercussions from Andrews’ actions stayed with her for years.
“No one could help me, I was too far in my own head, I didn’t want the help, I thought I deserved what had happened to me,” Claire said.
She’s waited over four years for Andrews to be sentenced: “It’s been a long and tortuous process getting the case to court. I feel like I’ve been locked away. I can’t go out like a normal kid and have fun. I’m constantly waiting for the next phone call to say what’s happening,” she said.
“I hope I can finally close a lid on this part of my life. I’m still not mentally stable, I don’t think I ever will be. I was ashamed but in the end it’s not your fault, you’re a victim. It took ages for me to think it wasn’t my fault.”
Claire’s mum has a simple message for other parents.
“As a parent this has been devastating. She’ll build a life but this will always be there in the background.
“To other parents I can only say, check their devices, and if your child comes forward to tell you something believe every word they say, some people wouldn’t have believed this story, but every word turned out to be true.”
