UP TO AGE 8, life was good for me and my family - even though our Liverpool estate at Page Moss in Huyton, had the label “rough” stuck on it.

Then, soon after my eighth birthday, everything changed. My dad began to beat me regularly. He used anything he could lay his hands on, including belts with sharp buckles. Then the sexual abuse began. It went on for six years and he told me, “It’s OK – this is what all daddies do to their girls”.

I was fourteen before I realised it wasn’t normal at all but terribly wrong and a friend helped me move out of home. Soon I realised that my friend had a hidden agenda in helping me in – she wanted me to go into the “escort” business with her.

No way! I moved out and went to live with my sister, only to get myself into one abusive relationship with a man after another. Because of what I’d gone through as a child, it was almost as if I thought that suffering at the hands of abusive men was how my life was meant to be.

My sister was a Christian and belonged to the Jesus Army in Liverpool. One day I decided to go to one of her church meetings. To be honest, I only went to see what it was all about and because I got bored on my own. But I really liked what I saw - especially the way people really cared for each other.

I thought “I want some of that too!” and three weeks later, in 1995, I gave my life to Jesus and was baptised.

I wish I could say it was all plain sailing from then onwards – but I’m afraid it wasn’t. Soon afterwards I slid back into relationships with violent men and it took six months for Jesus, the perfect Man, to win me back again.

It’s now eleven years since I became a Christian and I’m so grateful to Jesus for pulling me up out of the pit when I was at the lowest of all lows. He brought healing and comfort for all the hurts of my past and led me to a man who could give me the love, support and care that I needed. Dean became my husband in August 2000 and we now have four beautiful children.

I know there are dozens of people who have been through what I’ve suffered – both men and women - and I want to say to them DON’T GIVE YOURSELF UP. Let Jesus have a chance to help you the way that He helped me.