THE brave victim of a 'pathetic' child abuser who was jailed for five years today says he can finally draw a line under the abuse he suffered.

Alan Page, 55, of Burcher Green in Kidderminster, was sentenced to five years in prison at Stafford Crown Court today after his brave victim from Worcester reported the indecent assaults to police.

Page was found guilty at Hereford Crown Court on Tuesday, November 4 of five indecent assaults and for inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency.

Page committed the offences between July 1, 1996 and October 1,1996 in Stourport-on-Severn, all involving a boy who was 12-years-old at the time.

The victim, Worcester businessman Tom Leavesley, who is now 31, of Diglis, Worcester, who waived his right to anonymity, said Page was 'pathetic' and 'selfish'.

He said Page had stolen his childhood from him and he could never forgive him for what he had done.

However, he now has some measure of closure hopes he can move on with his life.

Mr Leavesley also hopes his decision to report the assaults will encourage other victims to come forward, making it easier for those who follow him.

He said: "I am now looking forward to getting on with the positive things in my life.

"From my perspective the sentencing wasn't as important as the verdict.

"The most important thing for me was the vindication, to know that going through the process was the right thing to do.

"It was the guilty verdict for me which was the most important thing.

"No amount of time behind bars will make up for what he did to me but it does go some way to right the wrong.

“The last 12 months, from my initial interview with the police through to the trial and sentencing today, have been incredibly painful and stressful for me and my family.

"Whilst I am relieved this formality is finally over, my personal recovery from this crime continues.

"I'd particularly like to thank DC Kirsty Hickling from West Mercia Police.

"She handled the investigation sensitively and with compassion.

"I'd also like to thank the West Mercia Sexual Abuse Support Centre who have supported me throughout the justice process.

"The volunteers at both Worcester and Hereford Crown Court were also fantastic and are unsung heroes in my eyes.

"Attending court is a daunting process but they made it more bearable by keeping me informed throughout the trial and making sure I was in the right place at the right time.

"I'm determined to turn the negative events from my childhood into something more positive and fulfilling.

"I will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in August to raise money for an abuse survivors charity and will be taking part in various other charity events in 2015 and beyond which I'm incredibly excited about and looking forward to."

However, Mr Leavesley was disappointed he did not get to read out his victim personal statement in court which he was fully prepared to do.

He says an error meant the sentencing exercise took place in the morning instead of the afternoon. The judge read out his statement instead.

DC Kirsty Hickling, the investigating officer, said: “We take allegations of this nature very seriously, regardless of when they occurred.

"I hope the sentencing indicates this and West Mercia Police’s priority of protecting people from harm and bringing offenders to justice.”

In his victim personal statement Mr Leavesley wrote: "I will forever be grateful to my partner Adam for encouraging me to seek support, which ultimately led to the outcome today.

"No words can describe the emotional trauma of telling people you love the truth about what happened and watching their pain and upset as they deal with what you've just said.

"Having to repeat the process over and over again with close family and friends resulted, I believe in me having an emotional and physical breakdown in January 2014.

"I had to take six weeks off work, paid to attend a retreat in Cornwall to rehabilitate and was prescribed anti-depressants.

"The process of healing has only just begun for me.

"I'm learning to accept that I was not to blame for anything that happened to me as a child.

"Unravelling the last 20 years will take time and I'm thankful to my close friends and family who've offered me unconditional love and support.

"I'm mourning for my lost childhood and I'm starting to see the positives in my life rather than all the negatives.

"Like drawing poison from a wound it's time to let the scar heal and I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my life with renewed enthusiasm and genuine excitement.

"Alan, you stole my childhood to fulfil your own selfish ends.

"You abused my trust, you prayed on my innocence and you gratified yourself at my expense.

"You have had a profound negative impact on my life and those around me.

"Through my actions over the last 20 years many people have felt bewildered, confused and at times upset and hurt at my behaviour.

"Little did they know the secret I was desperate to keep within me and the poisonous effect this had had on my physical and emotional wellbeing.

"When I finally found the courage to tell my story your insidious presence was yet felt again as I had to watch loved ones cry for what happened to me and deal with their own feelings about how they responded to my cries for help over the years.

"You have left a trail of destruction in many people lives other than my own and you deserve to carry that guilt until the end of your days.

"Alan, I can never forgive you for what you did and nor do you deserve forgiveness.

"I would like to end on by reading an anonymous quote that we can all take to heart.

"Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind."

Always."