ADRIAN AUSTIN – DARLINGTON

Darlington man jailed for years of sexual abuse against half-sisters

A man from Darlington who subjected his two younger half-sisters to years of sexual abuse throughout their childhood has been sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Adrian Austin, 45, of Sanderson Road, Hurworth, was convicted of 11 child sexual offences following a trial. The court also imposed an additional two years on licence following his release.

The abuse began when Austin was around 14 years old. His eldest victim was just five when he first made sexual advances towards her. The offending escalated into repeated sexual assaults over a number of years.

Even after Austin moved away from the family home to live in Manchester, the abuse continued whenever he returned to babysit his younger siblings.

Despite the allegations, Austin denied any wrongdoing during police interviews and claimed the victims had fabricated their accounts.

Following a trial held in June, a jury unanimously found him guilty of six counts of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, four counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child.

At sentencing, the court heard how Austin abused the trust placed in him by his family and carried out the offences in places where his sisters should have felt safest.

The two women, Nikita, 36, and Mellissa, 35, chose to waive their right to anonymity so they could speak publicly about their experiences and encourage other survivors to come forward.

Nikita reported the abuse to Greater Manchester Police in 2021, triggering an investigation that also identified Mellissa as another victim.

Officers later discovered a report had originally been made in 1997 but had not been fully investigated. Greater Manchester Police apologised to both women for the failings of the original inquiry.

To assist the investigation, Mellissa underwent Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which helped her recover traumatic childhood memories. One recovered memory became significant evidence during the court case and contributed to Austin’s conviction.

Investigators were also able to challenge Austin’s denials after Nikita accurately described the layout of his Manchester flat, details that matched official housing records.

Speaking after the case, Nikita described living for years with fear, confusion and emotional trauma. She said she never expected to be believed when she first reported the abuse but felt empowered as the investigation progressed.

She said having a jury believe her evidence helped restore some of what had been taken from her and added that, while she could never forgive what had happened, she had learned that forgiveness is not necessary in order to heal.

Nikita also said she was determined not to let Austin’s crimes define the rest of her life and vowed to rebuild her future.

Mellissa said recovering memories of the abuse had been devastating and completely changed her understanding of her childhood.

She described grieving for the young girl she once was, saying Austin stole both her innocence and her sense of self. Despite the lasting trauma, she said she is working to rebuild her life and is proud of the mother and partner she has become.

Detective Constable Rebecca Lovekin praised both women for their exceptional courage in coming forward.

She acknowledged the failures of the original 1997 investigation but said policing had changed significantly since then, particularly in the handling of historic sexual abuse cases.

The officer said the force remained committed to supporting survivors, securing justice and ensuring victims receive the care and protection they deserve.