A WOMAN lived with the agony of a decade of sex abuse for 25 years before finding the courage to go to police and turn in her attacker.

Now Neil Chadwick, 70, could spend the rest of his life in jail.

Chadwick started his campaign of abuse against the woman now in her forties when she was just nine years old.

Today she spoke for the first time about the terror she suffered at the hands of Chadwick, of Chester Street, Accrington after he admitted his crimes in court.

He pleaded guilty to seven specimen charges, six of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child, dating back to the 1970s.

He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and bailed until June 16, when he will be sentenced.

His victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has now been able to rebuild her life aftter the prolonged period of abuse. She is now a married mother and lives in Oswaldtwistle.

She said: "I had tried to put all this behind me and forget all about it but I just couldn't do it any more.

"What he did to me was disgusting and I hated thinking that he had got away with it. It was a horrible part of my life.

"At first I was frightened to death what people might say but he needed to be named and shamed."

She was orphaned at 11 when her mother died. She added: "Both my parents had died and I had no one to talk to.

"I was completely alone and didn't think anyone would believe me. I was so scared and didn't know what to do.

"I hate him but I did not go to the police after all this time just for revenge, I've done it for my own closure."

She said that she went off the rails as a result of the abuse smoking, drinking and missing school at a young age but turned her life around when she met her husband when she left school.

Over the past five years she has been receiving counselling and wants to be a counsellor herself.

Investigating officer Sergeant John Wrintmore said the offences began 35 years ago.

Chadwick subjected his young victim to the repeated sexual attacks until she was 18.

He said the abuse only came to light when she reported her ordeal to the police in October last year.

Sgt Wrintmore added: "I hope this result provides some sort of closure for the victim and shows that people can't get away with crimes no matter how long ago they occurred.

"This man took advantage of a vulnerable young girl and subjected her to a prolonged period of sexual assaults."

At Burnley Crown Court Chadwick was granted bail by Judge Barbara Watson but she warned the defendant he had admitted very serious offences and the fact he was having bail was no indication of what might happen.

She said: "Quite clearly custody is going to be in the forefront of the judge's mind."