Evil policeman subjected own daughter to years of abuse and left her with PTSD
A police officer who subjected his daughter to eights years of sexual abuse has been branded a "monster".
Craig Hodgkins molested Rhanna Latham nearly every day from when she was four to the age of 12. Rhanna, now 27, waived her right to anonymity to highlight the horrific nature of Hodgkins' behaviour.
She spoke out after her dad was jailed for 10 years at the High Court in Edinburgh. Rhanna's great uncle, Alexander Philip, was also jailed for ten years for molesting her and two other survivors, who found the courage to come forward and talk to Police Scotland during the investigation.
Rhanna Latham has waived her right to anonymity to talk about her ordeal (Daily Record)
Rhanna tied the knot with husband Gary last year (Daily Record)Speaking today to Daily Record, Rhanna said: "He was very conscious of presenting an image to the world of this amazing single dad, who was doing it all on his own. But behind closed doors he was just a monster."
“He always used to say to me that I couldn’t tell anyone because I deserved what was happening and that no one would believe me because he was a police officer. When you’re a scared kid, you believe that."
Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe
Hodgkins' abuse started when he was around 29, a single father to Rhanna. Despite giving a full statement to Police Scotland when she was at school, no charges were initially brought against Hodgkins.
Rhanna added: "When you’re told that you’re nothing, you’re stupid, you’re mental, you start believing it. I started doubting my own sanity. He had really icy blue eyes and that’s what I still see during my night terrors. There was nothing behind them. My earliest memory of anything happening was when I was around four. Sometimes my dad and uncle would be in the room at the same time doing it.
"My dad’s abuse was happening every day right up until I was 12-years-old and was taken out of his care. The police picked me up from school because another person had made an allegation. I gave a full statement but no charges were brought."
Alexander Philip was also found guilty of abusing Rhanna (Police Scotland)Struggling to deal with the trauma, Rhanna developed anorexia and attempted suicide multiple times. But her life turned around when she met husband Gary Latham in 2019.
She said: “When we first got together, he said he couldn’t fall in love with me if I was going to make him watch me destroy myself because I was anorexic at the time. That was the turning point for me. He brought me back to life.
"Up until that point, life was just black, white and grey. But Gary brought the colour back. He taught me how to trust people again. I had such a barrier up and he just broke it down. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.
"He came with me to the sentencing and we both cried as the judge jailed them both for ten years each. It felt like a bit of closure.” Rhanna was contacted by officers from Police Scotland last year after two other survivors came forward. The two other survivors cannot be identified for legal reasons.
Despite being reluctant to relieve her ordeal, the former healthcare support worker plucked up the courage to give evidence at the trial against Hodgkins, who left the police in the early 2000s, and Philip. She said: “I didn’t trust the police. Why would I? My dad was a police officer and nothing happened when I was 12 so I felt so let down and mixed up.
“But Gary persuaded me that it was the right thing to do. Even at the sentencing, my dad was still denying it. He’s a complete narcissist who has shown no remorse. The result has restored some of my faith in the justice system. The police who investigated and the prosecutor were incredible. I’ve decided to speak out because I know what it’s like to completely give up. I didn’t think I’d ever get justice but I did. So I hope by coming forward and sharing my experience, it’ll give anyone else going through something similar a bit of hope.”
Hodgkins, from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, and Philip, of South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, were found guilty of all charges by a jury. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We recognise that coming forward to report sexual crime is a very significant step for anyone to take and our officers will treat any report seriously, with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity, and we will thoroughly investigate in order to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice.
Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex
“We also work closely with a range of partner agencies who are able to provide appropriate, tailored support. Time is no barrier for Police Scotland to investigate any report of sexual abuse I would urge anyone who wishes to report a crime, regardless of when it happened, to contact us.”
The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email [email protected] or head to the website to find your nearest branch. You matter.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
