Clydebank Post | News | My ordeal at hands of sex abuse uncle

Friday, 4th July, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 14th May, 2008 10:00

My ordeal at hands of sex abuse uncle

By Andrea Fraser

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GUILTY: Terence Weir

Dani Weir broke down when she finally told her mum that her uncle had abused her.

She had been a primary school pupil when Terence Weir — her adoptive dad’s brother — first lured her into his bedroom to play “computer games”.

But once inside the room Weir sexually assaulted her.

The pervert then told her to keep it their secret.

VICTIM: Dani Weir

Last week the Post reported how both his victims bravely took the stand to testify against Weir, 36, who was tried at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

After the paper went to press last week Weir was found guilty by majority verdict and has now been put on the sex offenders register.

But he was bailed ahead of being sentenced next month.

Weir started abusing Dani on Christmas Day, 1999, in his then Old Kilpatrick home.

He went on to assault her between 10 and 20 further occasions.

Now 18, Dani — who has waived her right to anonymity — told the Post: “I was only young and didn’t really know that what he was doing was wrong.

“I never told anyone what he did and bottled it up.

“He was my uncle, and at that age you do what adults tell you.

“I was self-harming as a form of release and then in January last year I just blurted out to my mum what had happened.”

The Clydebank teenager said: “He was my family. I had known him since I was three and he did this to me.

“When I heard [the other victim’s] evidence in court I had to leave, it made me feel sick.

“I am hoping I can move on now — I am not going to be a victim.”

Dani’s mum, Laura, said that when her teenage daughter told her of the abuse she had to stay calm.

She said: “I knew I had to be there for Dani.

“She was in tears, we talked it through — I made sure she knew it was her decision if she wanted to go to the police or not.”

Before Dani had spoken to her mum, Laura had been informed about the allegations of abuse levelled at Weir from the other victim, after the girl’s mother contacted her.

Laura admits she had had suspicions about Weir who she had caught looking at Dani inappropriately, but even then she never suspected that her daughter had been physically abused by him.

Looking back now she realises that Dani had started to dislike going to visit the family in Old Kilpatrick.

And angry Laura this week hit out saying: “I hope he gets a custodial sentence. I am surprised he was bailed.

“Once he is sentenced, no matter what the sentence, we can get on with being survivors and not victims.”

The families of both victims broke down in court last week as the jury returned a guilty verdict.

Weir was convicted of using lewd and libidinous behaviour towards Dani on a number of occasions between Christmas Day 1999 and February 29 2000 at an address in Old Kilpatrick.

He was also convicted of similar offences against the younger victim between January 1 2004 and December 26 2005 at two locations in Clydebank and a third in England.

Sheriff Simon Pender deferred sentence on Weir, of 308 Dumbarton Road, Old Kilpatrick, to allow for the preparation of reports, including a risk assessment.

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