Nicholas Patrick, 39, got nine years for abusing kids decades ago. Survivors share trauma and relief at justice.
Patrick, now 39, abused kids for years. He attacked a boy and a girl over 20 years ago. The abuse stopped when Patrick turned 17, with one boy pretending to be sick to stop him.
Patrick also hurt another girl, but wasn’t charged because he was too young then. A survivor, Tom, spoke about the abuse’s impact; Tom isn’t his real name, we changed it. The abuse started when Tom was a toddler, and he kept it secret for years.
Talking helped him, even though it was hard, and he learned he wasn’t the only victim. He’s a dad now and had long relationships, but he still struggles with the past. He used drugs and alcohol to cope, and every week is still a battle, he said.
Tom said the abuse ruined his life, giving him anxiety and depression. He felt the PTSD was unreal, even though Tom knows it happened to him. Patrick’s other victim was scared of him, fearing trouble if anyone knew, and found it hard to tell anyone.
She still has nightmares. Justice is all they want now, as all the wounds reopened, she said. Tom told police in 2021 because he couldn’t cope anymore and thought Patrick was dangerous.
There was no forensic evidence, as it was historic, but paper evidence backed up the victims’ stories. Tom is glad the right thing happened, but he thinks nine years isn’t enough. He thinks an adult trial would bring a longer sentence.
Patrick called the claims “horrendous” lies when police asked him, stating they were “colluding” against him. His lawyer read a letter from Patrick, who said he didn’t consider his actions as a kid. He regrets the long-term effects; Patrick wrote that it ruined lives. He claimed he isn’t a bad person, stating that he helped people and family for years and lived with the secret.
Patrick is ready to face punishment and doesn’t want to hurt anyone else. He feels guilty and will for life, adding that he’s sorry for his actions. He hopes lives can get back to normal and that people can forgive him, hating himself for it.
His lawyer said it happened long ago and Patrick pushed it away until he pleaded guilty. He stopped offending years ago, at 17, and now, at 39, he faces his past. Patrick appeared in court via video, wearing prison clothes.
He sat with his head down as he got jailed. The judge said Patrick denied everything at first, calling the claims “horrendous lies.” He noted Tom’s life was ruined, and that the female victim’s life was broken.
The judge considered Patrick’s age when he offended, acknowledging he was sexually abusive from a young age. He committed these crimes repeatedly, happening over many years. He stayed out of trouble for years, accepting that he ruined their lives.
He built businesses and supported his family. Patrick must serve two-thirds of his sentence and got a lifelong prevention order plus restraining orders. He can’t contact his victims again.