My soldier stepdad raped me from the age of 12 until I was 19

A woman has revealed how her former soldier stepfather sexually abused her from the age of 12.

Naomi Richards, 24, from Swansea, was repeatedly raped by monster Anthony Pitman, 51, until the age of 19.

But the twisted step dad claimed at court, that the pair were in a ‘consensual relationship’.

Earlier this month, Pitman was sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of 21 counts of rape and other sexual offences.

Now, Naomi is bravely waiving her right to anonymity to encourage other survivors to speak up and seek justice.

She says: ‘What Anthony did to me has scarred me forever.

‘But I’m so pleased I found the courage to stand up to him and see him jailed.

‘Now I want other survivors to know that there’s always a chance to get your freedom back.’

Naomi met Pitman when she was six, after he started dating her mother. Her dad wasn’t on the scene, so Pitman quickly took his place.

Naomi explains: ‘He took me to football training and we went on family holidays to the Canary Islands together. I saw him as my dad.’

Pitman, who was Staff Sergeant in the Army, was stationed away from the family home most of the time.

In 2010, when Naomi was 12, she went to stay with him alone on base during the school holidays. But whilst there, everything changed.

Naomi says: ‘One evening, I’d just gotten out of the bath when Anthony suddenly pushed me onto his bed and forced himself on me.

Naomi was repeatedly raped by monster Anthony Pitman, 51, from 12 years old (pictured) until the age of 19

Naomi Richards, 24, from Swansea, has revealed how her former soldier stepfather sexually abused her from the age of 12

Earlier this month, Pitman was sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of 21 counts of rape and other sexual offences

‘I had no idea what was going on, but I was in so much pain down below, I knew something was wrong. Afterwards, I went to the bathroom and cried.

‘It left me feeling really confused and I wondered if that’s what dads were supposed to do.’

Soon after, Pitman came home for a visit. But one afternoon, while her mother and older sister, then 14, were downstairs, Anthony took Naomi upstairs and raped her in his bedroom.

Naomi says: ‘Afterwards, Anthony warned, ‘Don’t tell Mammy. He then walked back downstairs as if nothing had happened.’

From then on, Pitman raped Naomi most weekends when he came home.

Naomi was desperate to tell her mother but was terrified of Pitman.

In 2013, when Naomi was 14, after everyone had gone to bed, Pitman pinned her to the living room sofa and raped her again.

She remembers: ‘I pleaded for him to stop, but he just said, ‘Let me finish’.

Pitman raped Naomi most weekends when he came home. He even had his sordid way with her when she got her period (pictured aged 24)

Naomi pictured aged 17 when she was still being abused by Pitman and before she reported him to the police 

‘Afterwards, he threw a towel at me. It was monstrous.’

In time, Naomi realised that what Pitman was doing to her was wrong.

When Naomi was 18, she joined the Army to try and escape his abuse.

Naomi says: ‘I avoided going home as much as possible. But Anthony continued to text me every day asking what I was doing and where I was.

‘He had a strange hold over me, so, scared of him, I always replied.

‘The abuse finally stopped when I was 19.’

In 2019 when Naomi was 20, she confided in a friend in the Army.

Her friend encouraged her to go to the police, but Naomi was worried that she wouldn’t be believed.

As the years went by, Naomi felt like there was no way out. Her life was haunted by memories of Pitman’s abuse.

So, in December 2021, when Naomi was 22, she self-harmed and was hospitalised at Frimley Park Hospital.

She explains: ‘My mum rang me in hospital and asked me what had happened to make me hurt myself.

‘It was then I confessed all about Anthony’s abuse. She was horrified and broke down.’

As the years went by, Naomi felt like there was no way out. Her life was haunted by memories of Pitman’s abuse

With her mother’s help, Naomi reported Pitman to the police and the next day, a police officer visited her in hospital and took her statement.

Pitman was arrested shortly after, but denied everything.

Naomi says: ‘I was really disappointed that I would have to face a trial. I couldn’t bear to see him again in court.’

In April 2023, Naomi didn’t attend court to give evidence, and instead, her video interview was played.

She says: ‘When it was Anthony’s turn to take the stand, he lied and claimed we had a consensual relationship.

‘I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was an innocent child.’

After an eight-day-trial at Swansea Crown Court, Anthony Pitman was found guilty of 21 counts of rape and other sexual offences against Naomi.

He was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Naomi says: ‘When the verdict was read out, I cried in disbelief. It feels amazing to know that he’s been punished for what he did to me.

‘Remember, it’s never too late to speak up. You will be believed.’