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Rape victim who bore attacker’s son breaks 25-year silence in daily interview

A woman who was raped at 11 and bore her abuser’s child aged 14 has broken her 25-year silence in a regional daily interview.

Pauline Shields waived her right to anonymity to speak to the Paisley Daily Express about the abuse she suffered for six years as a child.

Ms Shields spoke to the Express in a bid to encourage other victims of her abuser, who was jailed for the rape of the 13-year-old girl three years ago and subsequently released, to come forward.

Her appeal was carried on the front page of Monday’s Express, pictured below.

Paisley Pauline

She told the newspaper: “You don’t rape one child back in the 80s and then, 20 odd years later, decide to rape another wee girl.

“I’m positive that there are more victims who, like me, have been too terrified to speak out and that’s why I’ve now decided it’s time to tell my story.

“I want to give these victims a voice and say that we shouldn’t be ashamed, we shouldn’t be disgusted, we shouldn’t hate ourselves. What happened to us wasn’t our fault.”

Pauline has a 23-year-old son, Daryl, who was fathered by her attacker.

He declined to talk to the Express himself, but supported his mother’s decision to do so.

Reporter Gavin McInally, who spoke to Pauline, said: “Pauline had made reference to being attacked on a community Facebook page I follow. I contacted her and asked if I would be able to visit her home and discuss it further.

“After a couple of calls, she agreed to be interviewed and during the interview, she agreed to have her photo taken, with her son.

“She grew up in Paisley and the Express has always been her local paper, so there was an element of familiarity and trust there which helped when she was telling her story.”