AS Derek Lloyd Whellams was escorted out of Chelmsford Crown Court by prison officers, his victim felt the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders.

He had been left haunted by the memories of his abuser’s crimes some 35 years ago, committed when he was just a child.

The victim, known as N for the purposes of this article, was left “wanting to die” after being repeatedly targeted by Whellams, aged 15 at the time, in Colchester.

Whellams, now 51, of Linden Close, Colchester admitted two counts of indecent assault and was also convicted of two counts of a serious sexual offence and indecency with a child after a traumatic trial.

He is now serving six years’ imprisonment after N’s bravery in delivering the most harrowing of accounts of what happened to him, in order to bring his abuser to justice.

Opening up to the Gazette, N addressed people he believes he can help in the hope he can inspire them to come forward... if they are ready.

He said: “They took something precious and irreplaceable when you were a defenceless child; they are not owed your protection or consideration.

“These crimes, by their nature, are dark and secret things; silence is their ally.

“Find someone your trust - a parent, your partner, a family member, a friend. You do not need to speak it out loud though, a note, text or email is enough.

“There are people ready and waiting to hear your truth and to lend you their strength and support on this journey.”

Having told his mother about what had happened to him as a child, N proceeded to go to the police and instigate an investigation into what happened to him as a youngster.

It was hard to not feel moved as he described to the court how he had grown up with the “shame and fear” of having to remain in complicit silence about his body being used against him.

The effects of the crimes left the victim fearing changing rooms in fear of sexual assault and seeing his body as something “grotesque, abused”.

He told Judge Timothy Walker: “I wanted to die to get it over with”.

But out of the most bleak, unrelenting darkness has come the promise of a life free from the horrors previously condemned to his body.

N says he wants to use his experience to help others suffering in silence due to horrific crimes committed against them.

“The first step is in your power,” he said.

N stated he hopes his case can inspire people that they can beat the odds and bring their abuser to justice, even if it just helps one person.

But the emphasis shouldn’t just be on the abused, he added, but those committing the crimes should take a long, hard look at themself.

He added: “To anyone currently engaged in abusing a child or considering it, I have the following message: stop.

“You will cause irreparable and permanent harm just to satisfy your perverse desires. If you have committed these acts already, confess and help your victim.

“I realise this message may well fall on deaf ears but let my delayed justice be your teacher.

“If this warning does not stay your hand, then think about how anytime in the future the long arm of the law could grasp you and drag you to court to answer for your crimes.

“There is no statute of limitations on child abuse; your actions now mean a lifetime of peril, waiting to see if you will be outed for your monstrous behaviour.”