How Could You? Hall of Shame-UK-Katie-Anne Warman case

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Norfolk, UK, foster child Katie-Anne Warman was raped by her foster father in 2010.

“Katie-Anne Warman, now 19, suffered at the hands of vile Michael Newson – who was paid £500 a week to look after her – for five months before running away.

She finally turned him in four years later, after suffering a flashback triggered by a controversial rape scene on EastEnders.

In December 2014, Newson, now 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape on a child under 13.

He was jailed for nine years at Norwich Crown Court and will sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Now Katie-Anne has bravely waived her right to anonymity to share her harrowing story.

She told how she’d always felt like an “unwanted child” in her own family and had an “unstable” relationship with her mother.

After a series of rows with her mum, she and her sister, then 15, were removed from her care in February 2010 by Norfolk social services and taken in by Newson, then 28, and his partner, who had four kids.

Katie-Anne admitted that for the first six months of living there, she thought she’d finally found a home where she could have a “normal childhood”.

But in August 2010, the family took her on holiday to Disneyland Paris, where Newson grabbed her and tried to pull down her bikini bottoms while she was swimming.

She recalled: “I pulled away, and he grinned and swam off. It was so unexpected I told myself it was an accident.

“But the following day he did it again. He’d meant to grope me.

“Disneyland was meant to be a place of dreams, not nightmares. All those happy memories I’d made were suddenly tainted.”

When they got back to the UK, she told how he raped her in the living room while her older sister was in the shower and his partner was picking up her children from school.

She admitted she was “terrified and in pain” – and claimed Newson, who worked at Pizza Hut, did not use a condom.

Katie, a full-time mum to nine-month old Isaac with partner Henry Crofts, 21, said: “He used the fact he was my father figure to prey on me, knowing I was vulnerable with no-one to confide in.

“His abuse of power makes me sick to my stomach and so angry.

“He chose to take me in thinking he could get away with raping me – and got paid for it as well.”

The abuse continued to happen regularly and Katie dreaded 4pm rolling round every day.

After five months she couldn’t stand it any longer and fled, returning to her mum’s home.

She later moved into the care of her then 17-year-old boyfriend’s mum.

Over the next three years, Katie suffered flashbacks and nightmares.

But it wasn’t until October 2014, when traumatising scenes on EastEnders showed Dean Wicks, played by Matt di Angelo, attacking Linda Carter, played by Kellie Bright, in the Queen Vic pub.

Katie-Anne began to shake and at that point, she knew she had to stop Newson.

The scene caused controversy at the time, sparking 278 Ofcom complaints and widespread debate, but Katie has praised the writers for helping her find the courage to report her ordeal.

The following day Katie-Anne told her boyfriend and reported Newson to Norfolk Constabulary, who arrested him.

Katie-Anne watched him get sentenced with her mum and sister, and said he showed no remorse as he was jailed for nine years – which she feels is not long enough.

She admitted she struggled to get her life back on track – but finding love with student Henry – who was supportive and understanding about all she’d been through – in July 2015 has helped her.

Now, Katie wants to urge other victims of child abuse within the care system to come forward.

She said: “I felt trapped in a system and scared to speak out, but Michael knew that and used it to his advantage.

“I don’t want anyone else to ever feel that way.””

Mum first abused at 12 by her foster dad on a trip to Disneyland recalls how he used to rape her while his partner was on the school run

[The Sun 7/27/17 by Hailey Richardson]

REFORM Puzzle Piece