Sexual abuse victim steps into the light

THERE are no secrets in Kim Lewis' family.
Her stomach churns at the thought of keeping something from her husband, Bob, or any of her five children.
But Mrs Lewis lived with a devastating secret for more than half her life.
At age 13, during a soccer season, she was indecently assaulted by her father, Robert Aitken Johnston.
Johnston, 64, of Wanganui, was found guilty after a jury trial in the Wanganui District Court in June of two representative charges of indecently assaulting his daughter during the winter of 1978.
After arriving home from soccer games, Mrs Lewis was forced to shower with him where incidents took place.
The offending ended about October, 1978 as the soccer season finished.
Johnston was sentenced to two and a-half years' prison by Judge Michael Lance QC in Auckland in September.
Mrs Lewis, 41, and now living in South Taranaki, didn't tell her husband about the offending until 1996, when he was laid up with a back injury.
The long-time Wanganui district resident said coming out about her past was the final step in gaining closure from the abuse.
"To me, while it was still a secret, I wouldn't go out and socialise. I wouldn't socialise when at work with the staff.
"Bob had his 50th last year, and it was the hardest thing."
Although she knew everyone at the party, she still feared everybody was judging her and wondered if they knew her big secret.
"I worked as a teacher aide with kids that had learning and behavioural problems.
"They came from all sorts of backgrounds and sometimes things would make me think about what I've been through, but I couldn't talk about it. So before I could help them, I needed to help me.
"I couldn't say 'go and talk to somebody about it' when I couldn't either."
At the time of the offending by her father, their family owned the Glasgow St Dairy.
During that time she first spotted her husband-to-be.
Bob, now a prison officer, at Kaitoke Prison, then worked for a bakery and often popped in with deliveries.
Years later they paired up after meeting at a social function at the prison.
Mrs Lewis said her husband had been her "rock" throughout her ordeal and wonders how she would have coped if he hadn't been so understanding.
They have been together about 21 years now and married for 19.
She was gutted that Mr Lewis wasn't allowed to be her support person during her father's trial ? the request was denied by the defence counsel.
She describes the trial as "horrific" ? worse than imagined. Hearing the verdict after the week-long trial, Mrs Lewis burst into tears.
But the guilty verdict was only the start of her healing process ? letting the world know her secret.
In some respects, though, she will be scarred forever.
Mrs Lewis is extremely protective of her children ? they're not allowed to go to any public events, the Splash Centre, or movies for fear of something happening to them.
But their home was a bustle of joy when the Chronicle visited, as the two toddlers, aged two and three, ran around the house and farm scoffing the freshly-baked chocolate cake.
As for the impact that revealing her secret would have on her children ? aged 2, 3, 14, 16, and 18 ? Mrs Lewis said they were well aware of the consequences.
"These guys, being teenagers, are well aware of everything that's happened.
"They support me 100 percent? They would rather it was out in the open? And it's the fact they support me and my being open that gives me the greatest strength."
As for the toddlers, they were too young yet to know what happened, she said, and had never known their grandparents anyway.
"When they're old enough, I'll tell them what happened. I'm no longer ashamed."
Now Mrs Lewis wants to turn her attention to helping other victims of sexual or indecent abuse, and encourages them to talk to somebody.
"My intention now is to be there for someone else.
"If there's anyone out there that needs someone to talk to, support as a friend, I'm here ? because there's no way I would want someone to go through it alone."
The officer in charge of her case, Wanganui police Detective Sergeant Dave Kirby, said he was proud of Mrs Lewis.
"It's not easy for a victim in a case such as this to have to come to court and go through what has occurred.
"I admire her bravery in doing that, and I am pleased we were able to get her a result that will enable her to get closure and move forward."