DAVID ROOKES' SHOCK RETURN FROM PRISON IN WISTOW LEAVES VICTIM TRAUMATIZED

In April 2019, a woman living in Wistow, near Selby and Pontefract, revealed the ongoing torment caused by her father, David Rookes, a convicted sex offender. Her story sheds light on a long history of abuse, legal battles, and the emotional scars that continue to haunt her.

David Rookes, now residing somewhere between Selby and Pontefract, was first imprisoned in July 2003 after a court in Leeds found him guilty of multiple heinous crimes. The court sentenced him to 12 years in prison for four counts of rape, one attempted rape, three indecent assaults, and two indecency charges involving a child. As part of his punishment, he was also placed on the sex offenders register for life, a mark that would follow him indefinitely.

He was released from prison in October 2010, and by March 2012, he was still on the sex offenders register, living in the vicinity of Wistow. Despite his release, the woman, who was his victim, continued to grapple with the trauma inflicted by her father. She recounted her experience of giving evidence in court via video link while seven months pregnant, a harrowing time that she described as one of the most difficult periods of her life.

In July 2012, she publicly spoke out about her ordeal, expressing the ongoing pain and sense of imprisonment she felt, despite her father’s incarceration. Her narrative detailed the emotional upheaval she endured, including the moment she learned her father might be released early following an appeal against his sentence. The news sent her into a panic, recalling the physical and emotional abuse she suffered at his hands from the ages of nine to sixteen.

She vividly described the moment she received the call from North Yorkshire Police informing her of her father’s potential early release. Her chest tightened, and she was overwhelmed with memories of her father’s sweaty palms and heavy breathing during the abuse. The fear and anger resurfaced as she called her partner, Mark, to come home immediately, knowing she needed support.

Her relationship with Mark was a source of strength. They had met when she was 17, and he had been her anchor through the darkest times. She revealed that her father, David Rookes, had been convicted of raping and indecently assaulting her over a seven-year period, resulting in a 12-year prison sentence. Yet, the prospect of early release after just seven years filled her with fury and despair.

Her memories of childhood were marred by her father’s abuse, starting with innocent gestures like a kiss on the cheek that escalated into more sinister acts. She recounted how he had manipulated her into keeping secrets, whispering that if she told anyone, they would take her away. Her attempts to escape the abuse included camping out in the garden, which her mother initially thought was a phase. However, her father’s predatory behavior intensified, culminating in a brutal assault that shattered her innocence.

Despite her efforts to block out the trauma, the memories persisted, surfacing in her daily life. Her son Ryan, aged seven, noticed her sadness and asked if she was okay, unaware of the depth of her pain. She had tried to protect herself by dressing in boys’ clothes and cutting her hair short, behaviors she adopted to deter her father’s advances, but these measures were ultimately ineffective.

Her mother, devastated by her father’s arrest, had expressed remorse and confusion, not knowing the extent of his abuse until his arrest. The family’s life was forever changed by the revelations, and the woman described her feelings of relief when her mother left her father, though the scars remained.

Years later, after relocating to Europe with Mark’s job, they built a new life and expanded their family with three children: Kayleigh, four; Liam, two; and baby Aimee. She began to recall happier memories, such as family holidays and simple joys, gradually pushing back the darkness of her past.

However, the specter of her father’s early release loomed large. When her mother called to inform her that David Rookes had been released early, her world was thrown into chaos. She was overwhelmed with anger and fear, feeling as though she was serving a sentence herself. Her desire to return to Britain and see her family was overshadowed by the terror of encountering her father again.

She expressed her profound concern about the safety of her children and herself, fearing that her father’s freedom would expose them to further harm. The emotional toll was immense, and she admitted feeling trapped, as if she was still imprisoned by her past, despite her physical distance from her abuser. Her story underscores the lasting impact of childhood abuse and the ongoing struggle for justice and peace for victims like her.