Doncaster child sex offender Paul Mundy jailed for 31 years as brave victims speak out
Several of Mundy's victims have waived their right to anonymity to speak out
A Doncaster child sex offender is starting a 31 year prison sentence for decades of abuse against people close to him.
Several family members of 71 year old Paul Mundy have waived their right to anonymity to speak out about what happened to them.
He was convicted of 24 counts of rape and sexual assault at Sheffield Crown Court on May 15.
Joanna Hobbs, who legally waived her right to anonymity, shared her ordeal of being abused by her stepfather, Mundy, from the age of five.
Hobbs’ victim impact statement highlighted years of trauma and her journey towards justice.
"Being abused made me feel I was to give my body freely - it was what I believed was normal" she said.
"I would just lay there and let him do want he wanted and he would leave.
"As a child it was scary and I detached during the abuse, frozen in fear, I felt unsafe and vulnerable - something to be used like an object, not something to be loved.
"I have carried this trauma with me for many years. Small things will remind me of my childhood and take me back - songs from my childhood, the smell of Lenor fabric conditioner, coffee, mushrooms and corn on the cob.
"Everyday things that will remind me, I can never ever escape these memories."
Megan O’Brien, Mundy's step-granddaughter, described the long-lasting effects on her mental health and relationships.
She said: "The impact of what happened cannot be undone, but I am learning that it does not have to define the entirety of my future.
"You made me feel weak and small, like my voice did not matter. You made me quiet. But I have spent years unlearning that silence. I have taught myself to speak, to take up space, and to recognise my own value beyond what was forced onto me.
"You may have shaped part of my story, but you do not get to write the ending. I made myself strong. I made myself loud. And I am still becoming someone you will never have control over again."
Victoria Bunch, who was sexually assaulted by Mundy as a teenager, said: "I tried to hide it for years and push it to the back of my mind in order to forget about it."
"However, that didn’t completely happen. It turns out that if anyone was to walk into my room to wake me up, I am up instantly without the need to even say my name.
"When I got married it would rear its ugly head in the morning when my husband would roll over to try and cuddle me. I couldn’t even let him hug me, and God forbid should he try to be intimate.
"I can never let my guard down. It is absolutely exhausting being aware of everyone, I can never settle nor have any fun."
Detective Constable Jamie Bennett, of South Yorkshire Police, said: "I would like to first and foremost commend all four victims for their courage during the course of this lengthy investigation.
"The road to justice has been complex and even in the face of a trial, all four victims continued to show immense bravery resulting in two dozen convictions and a significant prison sentence for Mundy."
"The appalling and long-standing impact of Mundy's crimes cannot be overstated but I hope the passing of this sentence allows the four women to rebuild their lives after such a horrific ordeal."
"Mundy's crimes were non-recent and I really want to stress that it does not matter when offences took place. If you have been a victim of sexual abuse in the past, please report it to us."
"We are here to listen, and it really is never too late to report a sexual offence. We will guide you and support you through every step of the process and it's important you know that you won't have to go through this alone."