April 2004 ‘I will never recover’, says victim of this merciless paedophile THE step-daughter of a paedophile who last week began a four-year jail sentence, says that she will never recover from the years of abuse she suffered. Lisa, of Great Sankey, was sexually abused for seven years, from the age of nine, by her step-father, Steve Mattison. Lisa waived her legal right to anonymity to tell the Warrington Guardian about the man she branded a “menace to society”. Mattison, aged 51, of Shiggins Close, was sentenced to four years in prison at Knutsford Crown Court last week. He was made to sign the Sex Offenders Register after being found guilty of 16 separate counts of sexual assault on Lisa Cresswell and another female victim. The court heard that Lisa went to her mother, Pauline, for help at the age of 12, but she was ignored and became regarded as the “black sheep” of the family. But last year police approached her and she was asked to testify, along with the other victim, against Mattison. lisa said: “I have always wanted to come forward but I felt like I would be on my own.” She added that the thought of other children suffering the way she had encouraged her to go through the ordeal of giving evidence in a trial. “It’s never really gone away but this has brought it all back. It was like living through my childhood again,” she said. As a result of the sexual abuse, Lisa continues to suffer from flashbacks, nightmares, eating disorders and severe depression, for which she has to take medication. She said: “I have tried to take my own life but then I take my tablets and think, ‘you stupid cow, he’s not worth it.'” However she is angry that Mattison got only four years for his crimes. She said: “I am really annoyed. I have done 28 years. It’s always going to be with me.” Judge Merfyn Hughes said that Mattison had been “merciless” in his treatment of the two victims. He added: “These lives are blighted by the abuse that they have suffered. I recall very well the ordeal they went through giving evidence against you.” The judge also criticised Pauline Mattison for failing to protect her daughter. Lisa hopes that her story will encourage other victims to come forward. She said: “You don’t have to suffer in silence.” Following his sentence Mattison blew a kiss to the public gallery, towards his victims, and made a threatening ‘gun’ gesture. He was found in contempt of court by Judge Hughes and three more months were added to his sentence.