Her abuser is in jail, but Julieann’s ordeal hasn’t ended

A brave abuse victim has told how she still lives in fear of reprisals despite her twisted uncle being jailed for carrying out a 17-year campaign of terror.

Julieann Tweedie’s harrowing evidence at the High Court in Glasgow helped convict married sex offender John Short.

The 57-year-old paedophile was handed a 12-year sentence and his vile actions were described as inflicting “incalculable damage”. But despite being found guilty of abusing three young girls and robbing them of their childhood, many of Short’s family have stood by him.

Courageous Julieann, who has waived her right to anonymity to speak out, fears she will always have to look over her shoulder.

She revealed: “It’s easier for them to believe him, than to come to terms with what he is and acknowledge the damage he has done. I’ve been intimidated and called a liar. I moved away recently but had to call in the police after they found out where I live. Every time I leave the house I dread what could happen. But Short is where he deserves to be, behind bars where he can’t abuse.”

Police have confirmed they are investigating Julieann’s claims.

Short, a former whisky bond worker began grooming Julieann when she was just 10. At first he would offer to babysit to gain access and then when she got older he would look for any excuse to get her to visit his house. Over a two year period he raped her multiple times.

At the age of 15 Julieann told her grandmother about the abuse. When the shocking information was passed onto her mother, Julieann was branded a liar and kicked out the house, moving in with her grandmother. In 2011, police began investigating claims Short was a paedophile.

Julieann, 39, revealed: “Time and time again during the abuse he told me there was no point telling anyone what was happening, because nobody would believe me. I’d be a liar, and the family would treat me like one. After I was thrown out the house I tried to get on with my life as best I could and forget about what had happened.

“Then in March 2011 I got a letter through the door from the police asking me to get in touch with them. All it said was allegations had been made about another member of my family.

“I went to the police station not having a clue what was about to start. When the officers explained they’d been told I was one of Short’s victims, I broke down. I didn’t have it in me to go over it, to talk about what had happened.

“It took me almost a year to pluck the courage up to speak to the police and agree to help the investigation. I didn’t think I could do it, I didn’t think anyone would believe me. Nobody believed me when I was 15, so why would they now?

“In the end it took the persuasion of my partner to convince me I was strong enough to cope.

“But I also realised I had to do what I could to make sure he was stopped and nobody else would have to suffer at his hands.”

Remorseless Short’s claims he is the victim of a vendetta were rubbished by prosecutors who insisted he was trying to create a “smoke screen”. Jailing him at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Armstrong said: “Society regards crimes of this nature to be abhorrent and it is the duty of the court to uphold that view.”

Julieann believes there could be more victims.

She added: “He moved all over Glasgow and most of his houses were close to schools. If there are others out there I would urge them to come forward. It will help the deal with what they’ve been put through, and keep him off the streets.

“It breaks my heart to think there could be others out there who have suffered at his hands. I’ve only spoken about what happened twice. Once during the police interview and then in court. There are things he did to me I don’t think I will ever be able to talk about. It’s as if there is part of me stopping the words come out.”

It’s believed Short has already instructed his legal team to appeal both his conviction and the length of his sentence.

Julieann added: “I find it difficult to accept he can appeal. I thought I would have been able to move on with my life after the trial. Short told social workers he believed something had happened to all of us, but that it wasn’t him.

“Perhaps he is so deluded he’s convinced himself he didn’t do it. But, as far as I am concerned prison is where he belongs.

“I heard the verdict over the phone from a court official. It was as if the burden of what I’d been carrying around for 29 years had been lifted off my shoulders.

“It was a long time to wait, but justice was done.”

Peter Saunders, of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, praised Julieann’s bravery.

He said: “More victims are feeling able to come forward and I’m sure that is one effect of the whole Savile case and other so-called celebrity scandals. It’s sadly not that uncommon for family members to stand by an abuser even in the face of a conviction. It’s a form of denial. No one wants to admit that someone they probably love can do such things to children.

“Julieann has been very courageous to speak out as she has and have a predatory abuser removed from society hence not a danger to children whilst he’s inside.”