HARRY HOLT FROM SCOTLAND AND NELSON EXPOSED FOR YEARS OF ABUSE

A woman who endured a harrowing period of abuse at the hands of her father for over five years has come forward publicly to share her painful story following her father’s recent incarceration. Angie Rodgers, now 36 years old and a mother of four, bravely spoke out about the relentless suffering she endured, which began when she was just 11 years old.

Her account details a series of weekly abuses inflicted by Ian Cousins, a Jehovah's Witness who was also involved in incidents at church conventions. These traumatic episodes took place within the context of her religious community, adding a layer of complexity and shame to her suffering. Angie revealed that during this same period, she was also subjected to abuse by Harry Holt, a church elder known within her community in Nelson and Scotland. Despite her efforts to seek help, her reports to church elders did not lead to any immediate action, and she continued to face abuse from Holt even after her initial disclosures.

What is particularly distressing is that the church authorities failed to report her father, Ian Cousins, to the police for many years, allowing the abuse to persist unchecked. Angie’s decision to waive her anonymity and speak out publicly is driven by her desire to shed light on the systemic issues of institutional abuse and the cover-ups that often accompany such cases within religious organizations. Her story underscores the importance of accountability and the need for proper reporting and intervention in cases of abuse, especially when it involves trusted community figures like Holt and Cousins. Her courage in sharing her experience aims to raise awareness and prevent similar tragedies from happening to others in the future.