'There are other victims of his out there probably suffering like I was': Rape victim speaks out to give hope to other women who may have been abused by predatory Leeds paedophile Paul Waites

The mum described the years of suffering she has endured since she was subjected to the callous attack in the former model's flat when she was a schoolgirl.

Waites, of Broad Lane, Bramley, was given a life sentence after being found guilty of rape over the incident which took place in 2005.

It is the third time Waites has been convicted of serious sex offences against teenage girls.

Waites was a model aged in his 30s at the time and would target vulnerable youngsters by handing out flowers outside a supermarket.

The predatory paedophile was told it is possible he may never be released from prison because of the danger he poses to teenage girls.

After a 15-year wait for justice, the victim described how Waites' offending had taken its toll on her life.

She blamed him for the breakdown of her marriage and for her inability to trust people.

The woman, who cannot be identified, praised the police and Crown Prosecution Service for supporting her and helping to ensure Waites remains in custody.

The victim said she hopes the latest conviction would encourage other victims to come forward.

She told Leeds Crown Court: "I have never blamed anyone but myself for getting into his car outside of school.

"By getting into his car and him driving off with me, it triggered my life to skew off in a totally different path to the one I was on.

"I was a happy, confident girl before that day but it all changed overnight.

"I didn't trust in people any more, and would second guess a person's intentions if they wanted to spend time with me.

"Growing up I struggled with intimacy and sexual relationships.

"The images of what Paul Waites did are seared into my brain forever.

"I never really dealt with this during my teenage years and during my twenties.

"I just pushed it out of my mind as best I could and ploughed on with life.

"I do wonder what I would be like now had I never travelled to Leeds that day.

"Would I be happier now? Would I not be on medication for depression and anxiety? I will never know."

The woman chose to read her victim statement to the court as Waites was sentenced.

Waites, now aged 48, appeared in court for the hearing via a video link from HMP Leeds.

She said: "Coming forward to the police and reporting this crime has come at great personal cost to me and my children.

"It has taken three years to get my voice heard in court, and during that time my life has been turned upside down once again when my marriage collapsed.

"This is in part due to the pressure and strain of digging up the past and my husband just could not deal with it.

"I have had to move out of the family home with my children and relocate.

"I believe that had I reported this to someone when I was a child then I could go back in time and talk to my 14-year-old self and hug her, tell her that it wasn't her fault, support her to report it to the police. But I can't.

"There are other victims of his out there probably suffering like I was, like I am now.

"I have done this for them, for potential victims of his if he was ever set free.

"He is going back to prison, which is where he belongs for a long time.

The woman added: "Hopefully the conviction will shine a light on this evil predatory paedophile and help his other victims to find the strength to come forward.

"I'd like to thank DC Paul Brindle, the witness care service and the Crown Prosecution Service who all believed in me.

"And my partner who has been amazing supporting me through everything."