A father whose teenage daughter was groomed and abused has spoken out about the devastation caused to his family.
Leon David Owen, 37, of Chapel Street, Porthmadog, was sentenced to four years in jail on Thursday, after pleading guilty to penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 16.
The father of the victim told the Cambrian News the family is “ecstatic” with the verdict, but added: “It’s never, never enough - but that’s a result for our daughter and for everyone who ever doubted her.
“We can start again and rebuild now.”
He recalled the terrible day he heard about what had happened to his teenage daughter.
“The day I got that call I died inside,” he said. “My youngest daughter had been groomed and we had no idea about it for two years.
“A person I trusted took it upon himself to manipulate his way into my daughter’s life and take advantage of her.”
When the police investigation into Owen began, the next few months “were the worst”, he added.
“We were trying to stay strong for each other while blaming ourselves for not doing more to stop this from happening, after all how could we not know all this time?”
But the family said the police were “amazing”, and arranged counselling and therapy for their daughter, who has now “turned a corner”.
After “pretty much giving up on life” and struggling with school, she has now “turned a corner with college”, he said.
“It was only a few months ago we heard her laugh. It’s sad to say we hadn’t heard that for a very long time,” he added.
The father is speaking out following the sentencing, in the hope that he can prevent other families going through a similar ordeal.
“I hope we can move forward and help to spread the message to any young child out there that you’re not alone and whatever you might think is normal, if you have to hide it from your parents, it probably isn’t.
“We want to express to all parents that sometimes even the people we think can be trusted, in reality they sadly cannot be.
“It’s so important that we look at the people around us and keep an eye on odd behaviour from our children, because I cannot express how much something like this can ruin a family.
“I’m lucky to have the support and love we have in our family to have kept us close and still fighting, but others may not.
“If this can save another’s family hell then I need to be the one to stand up.
“We always knew her to isolate herself from us as a family and, being a close family, we could never understand why. But now we’re coming together finally and learning to cope with everything that has happened, together.”
Sentencing took place at Caernarfon Crown Court, and alongside the jail term, Owen will also be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and has been served with a sexual harm prevention order.