Buried abuse memory brought sisters’ half-brother to justice

Sisters Nikita Dallison and Mellissa Arkwright were just six and seven years old when they began to be abused by their half-brother Adrian Austin.

But while Nikita, 36, can remember the harrowing details vividly, Mellissa, 35, had no recollection of what happen to her as a little girl.

It was only when Nikita bravely reported the abuse to police in 2021 that Mellissa decided to have a type of talking therapy known as eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR).

This involves listening to sounds, tapping, or flashing lights to remember a traumatic event.

“I needed therapy because my mental health had spiralled way out of control… but I never understood why,” said Mellissa.

“It’s horrific when you have it, because you feel every single sensation.

“You can feel the atmosphere in the room when you’re having that therapy.”

It unlocked a specific memory that would prove to be a crucial part of the evidence that brought their half-brother to justice.

Austin, now aged 45, was jailed for 17 years in July after being found guilty of six counts of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, which would be classed as rape under current sexual offences legislation.

He was also convicted of four counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency of a child between 1997 and 2001.

“It’s still upsetting thinking about that day [when he was found guilty] because we got justice for those little girls,” said Mellissa.

“It was very surreal and I don’t think I’ve ever cried like I did that day.

“It was like a whole weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

“I knew that it was over with. He can’t hurt anyone anymore.”