JEHOVAH WITNESS CHURCH COVERED UP THE SEXUAL ABUSE BY MY BROTHER FOR GOD'SSAKES, TODAY I HAVE GOT JUSTICE IN THE COURTS
A woman who was raped by her brother as a child has won justice but paid the heavy price of being disowned by their parents.
Brave Louise Palmer, 38, suffered in silence for decades as her strict Jehovah’s Witness parents protected her abuser.
She was only five when 14-year-old Richard Davenport started molesting
her.
He had moved into a caravan in the family’s garden because of a strained atmosphere in the house.
He would offer to take little Louise to stay with him, supposedly to shield her from domestic violence scenes but actually to abuse her.
For six years Davenport, now 47, put helpless Louise through hell. He stopped only when her periods started and he feared she may get pregnant.
She told parents Trevor and Diane and church elders about the vile abuse but shockingly they did nothing for fear of bringing shame on the name of God.
Last month Louise’s mum and dad – were at Wolverhampton crown court where Davenport denied two charges of raping his sister and three of indecently assaulting her.
But they were there for him, not Louise. He was found guilty on all the charges and jailed for 14 years.
Mum-of-two Louise, who waived her right to anonymity, felt she had once again been betrayed.
She told the Sunday People: “My parents chose my brother over me, even when they knew what he’d done. I can’t forgive them.
“I was very close to Mum, we were best friends. How she has reacted is not the Mum I know.”
Louise is now to campaigning to reform in the “oppressive” church and stop other youngsters’ suffering.
“I’m speaking as I want other abuse victims to know that no matter how long ago the crime, they can come forward and be believed. Help is out there, they are never alone.”
Louise kept her abuse secret for decades. Her brother threatened and emotionally blackmailed her.
On one occasion he begged her: “Please don’t tell the police – I’m not prison material.”
She now believes the Jehovah’s Witnesses, including her mum and dad, wanted to hush up the abuse by using a shocking and little-known two-witness rule.
This means they do not alert police as allegations are investigated internally only if a second witness was present.
She was strongly advised against reporting the abuse to police because it would bring reproach on God’s name and reflect badly on Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Louise said: “They said there were stories of other sisters who had been in a similar situation of abuse and had turned to Jehovah and prayed. They said our religion would help me get over it.”
The Davenports were seen as a respectable family, and pillars of the community in their home town of Halesowen, West Midlands. Yet the court heard claims that behind closed doors mum-of-four Diane suffered domestic violence at Trevor’s hands.
Meanwhile Louise was being groomed for sex by her brother yards away. She said: “I remember how he used to wear patchouli oil and burnt incense sticks while jazz would be playing.
Brave Louise Palmer, 38, suffered in silence for decades as her strict Jehovah’s Witness parents protected her abuser.
She was only five when 14-year-old Richard Davenport started molesting
her.
He had moved into a caravan in the family’s garden because of a strained atmosphere in the house.
He would offer to take little Louise to stay with him, supposedly to shield her from domestic violence scenes but actually to abuse her.
For six years Davenport, now 47, put helpless Louise through hell. He stopped only when her periods started and he feared she may get pregnant.
She told parents Trevor and Diane and church elders about the vile abuse but shockingly they did nothing for fear of bringing shame on the name of God.
Last month Louise’s mum and dad – were at Wolverhampton crown court where Davenport denied two charges of raping his sister and three of indecently assaulting her.
But they were there for him, not Louise. He was found guilty on all the charges and jailed for 14 years.
Mum-of-two Louise, who waived her right to anonymity, felt she had once again been betrayed.
She told the Sunday People: “My parents chose my brother over me, even when they knew what he’d done. I can’t forgive them.
“I was very close to Mum, we were best friends. How she has reacted is not the Mum I know.”
Louise is now to campaigning to reform in the “oppressive” church and stop other youngsters’ suffering.
“I’m speaking as I want other abuse victims to know that no matter how long ago the crime, they can come forward and be believed. Help is out there, they are never alone.”
Louise kept her abuse secret for decades. Her brother threatened and emotionally blackmailed her.
On one occasion he begged her: “Please don’t tell the police – I’m not prison material.”
She now believes the Jehovah’s Witnesses, including her mum and dad, wanted to hush up the abuse by using a shocking and little-known two-witness rule.
This means they do not alert police as allegations are investigated internally only if a second witness was present.
She was strongly advised against reporting the abuse to police because it would bring reproach on God’s name and reflect badly on Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Louise said: “They said there were stories of other sisters who had been in a similar situation of abuse and had turned to Jehovah and prayed. They said our religion would help me get over it.”
The Davenports were seen as a respectable family, and pillars of the community in their home town of Halesowen, West Midlands. Yet the court heard claims that behind closed doors mum-of-four Diane suffered domestic violence at Trevor’s hands.
Meanwhile Louise was being groomed for sex by her brother yards away. She said: “I remember how he used to wear patchouli oil and burnt incense sticks while jazz would be playing.
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