HEARING the guilty verdict, Kay Pitt felt a rush of relief.
It had taken 50 years but she had finally got justice for the abuse she suffered at the hands of her rapist father – but the same day Kay was faced with further heartbreak.
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After supporting her throughout the ordeal, Kay’s mum Mary Chapman died from lung cancer just an hour before the jury returned their verdict.
Kay, now 58, was abused by her sick dad Alan Vinten, now 78, following her parents’ separation in the 1970s.
The twisted paedophile abused her after baths and in his bedroom over the course of a year – with it only stopping when his new partner moved into the family home.
Brave Kay kept the true details of his crime a secret from everyone – even her husband – until she reported him to the police in 2021.
Supported by her mum, she gave evidence against vile Vinten, who she hadn’t seen for nearly three decades.
He was found guilty of eight charges including indecent assaults and unlawful intercourse with a child, and was jailed for 17 years at Maidstone Crown Court.
Kay, an accounts manager from Larkfield, Kent, says: “Justice has well and truly been served.
“I’ve lived with the consequences of his actions for nearly 50 years. It’s time for him to live with those consequences.
“He has shown no remorse and had no reaction to the sentencing.
“The verdict was such a relief. I wanted to shout it from the roof tops.”
The abuse started when Kay was aged nine – shortly after her mum left the family home in Snodland, Kent, leaving her four children in Vinten’s care.
Vinten raped Kay at least three times after her bath, and also abused her in his bedroom, she says.
Kay explains that he would get her siblings out of the bath first so he could get her on her own.
Afterwards, he just “carried on as usual”, even when he asked if she “liked” the abuse and she said “no”.
“It was the worst experience when I had to face him [during the assaults],” Kay says.
“It’s very confusing when you can’t trust your dad.
“For years I used to break down about it every five minutes, but going through court has really helped me to come to terms with it.”
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The abuse took place over 18 months until Kay’s stepmum moved in.
She had no one to talk to until she left home, aged 18, and confided in her mum.
According to Kay, her mum confronted Vinten, who said “it was a long time ago” and wouldn’t talk about it.
Kay admits that initially she was too scared to go to the police and persuaded her mum not to.
She says: “I never told mum all the details, just that I had been abused.
I know mum died with her fingers crossed for me – she knew I was telling the truth
Kay Pitt
“Going to the police felt too big and frightening then. You have to be ready and have the right support around you.”
Kay met her now-husband, John, 28 years ago, and they have five children, and five grandchildren, and got married in December 2023.
She told him about the abuse but couldn’t bring herself to give all the details until after she’d spoken to the police.
She cut all contact with Vinten 27 years ago when her first child was born.
“I wanted to protect my children, and he didn’t have the right to know them,” she says.
“He never tried to contact me, and the older I got the more I regretted not having done anything about the abuse.”
Kay got free therapy and support from charity Family Matters who provide therapy for rape and sexual abuse victims and decided to contact Kent Police on November 13, 2021.
In a 80-minute interview with the police, Kay shared all the details for the first time.
She says: “That interview was extremely useful. I was able to let it all go.
“I didn’t have to remember it anymore because it was all being written down – that was real therapy.”
The police gathered information from people Kay spoke to over the years – including from her mum.
Vinten, of Rainham, Gillingham, pleaded not guilty to all eight charges and was found guilty after a seven-day trial at Maidstone Crown Court.
Because of when the crimes took place, Vinten was charged under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.
He was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment on April 4. He was also made subject to a restraining order and put on the sex-offenders register for life.
Kay – who jointly owns a flooring company with John – says: “Family Matters were amazing. Having them at the end of the phone throughout the whole process made a huge difference to me.
“I’ve had fantastic support from John and my children, and other members of my family, it makes all the difference.
“My mum was a huge support throughout.
“I know she died with her fingers crossed for me – she knew I was telling the truth.”
Detective Constable Laura Bowness said: “Vinten is a predatory paedophile who subjected his young and vulnerable victim to the most appalling and terrifying campaign of abuse.
I’m so much more confident in everything I do, it’s like I’ve been given my future back.
Kay Pitt
“The victim felt she had nowhere to turn and only in recent years has been able to thankfully summon the strength and courage to give evidence and ensure Vinten has at last faced justice.
“The abuse suffered continues to have a profound and deep impact on much of her adult life, but I do hope she can now move forward from this knowing Vinten will be serving a lengthy prison sentence.
“I hope this sentence also encourages others who may have suffered abuse to come forward because it is never too late to report a sexual offence. You will be believed.”
Kay says that she hopes that her story will encourage other victims of historical sexual abuse to come forward.
“I feel like I’ve been released,” she says.
“I’m so much more confident in everything I do, it’s like I’ve been given my future back.
“It just shows that it’s never too late to report historical abuse – it’s always worth the chance.
How to report a sexual assault
“Making that initial phone call to the police was very difficult and emotional, but they were amazing and I was treated with kindness and respect, and it was 100 percent helpful to report him.
“Going to court was harrowing and extremely emotional, but 100 percent worth it.
“If you’ve been through something like this please pluck up the courage to speak to someone.
“The percentage for convictions is low but it’s important to try for your own peace of mind.”