WHEN seven-year-old Mary Crossan's dad bought her a Wonder Woman costume for Christmas, she was over the moon. She was ...obsessed... with the female superhero, and when her dad, Kevin Knott, asked her to put it on, she eagerly obliged.
HotSpot MediaMary aged 10, during her dad's sick campaign of abuse '/ ' 
HotSpot MediaMary now with her husband Steve '/ ' Little did she know that was the beginning of a sick campaign of sexual abuse by Knott which robbed her of her childhood innocence. For three years he preyed on Mary, forced her to have sex with him, and even abused her while she was in the bath. It was only years later that Mary discovered her dad had also abused her younger sister Bernie, 42, and her aunt Sheila, 68. In 2019 the brave trio reported his abuse to the police, and in April this year the vile predator was jailed for 25 years. Now Mary, 50, has bravely waived her right to anonymity to encourage other survivors of abuse to report their attackers to the police. The part-time carer and shop assistant from Derbyshire tells The Sun: "My dad made my childhood a living hell. He destroyed my innocence. "I thought no one would believe me, but we finally achieved justice. We're finally free of him." Most read in UK News GET READY! Met Office predicts exact date SNOW BOMB will hit bringing brutal Arctic chill THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT Meet all of Elon Musk's children FACE OFF Mask row sparks train BRAWL as passengers come to blows - leaving kids in tears XMAS STRESS 'Grinch' & 'Stressy' are among the most common Christmas personality types DEALER NAILED Cocaine trafficker jailed after moaning about his struggling drugs empire ROT IN HELL Killer LAUGHS as she's jailed for stamping Star to death - as mum gets 8 years Speaking about the Christmas when it all started, Mary recalls: "I was obsessed with Wonder Woman and was over the moon 'when he bought me ' the costume. "But days later, while Dad tucked me into bed, he asked me to put on the outfit.... It was here that Knott began abusing Mary aged eight. When the young girl told him he was hurting her, he told her it was ...what daddies were supposed to do.... Later that week, the devil dad went into her bedroom again and forced himself on her. Mary says: "I started to cry. He left the room without a word. "That night I cried myself to sleep." Fears for sister Weeks later Knott announced he'd got a new girlfriend and Mary hoped he'd leave her alone, but he continued to abuse her at night. Soon after, Mary discovered the couple were expecting a baby. But when their little girl was born, Knott and his girlfriend and Mary didn't see her sister for two years. Meanwhile, Mary and her dad moved into a flat in Nottingham where he got a lodger, forcing them to share a room. She says: "Most nights he'd abuse me in bed. Although I hated it, I thought it was normal. "I was desperate to tell someone but was terrified I'd get into trouble. "Dad also told me no one would believe me." 
HotSpot MediaMary with her younger sister Bernie '/ ' 
HotSpot MediaVile Kevin Knott abused his two daughters and his own sister '/ ' One day, aged 10, Mary was having a bath when her dad walked in and molested her. In time, when her sister Bernie started to visit, Mary made sure her dad was never alone with her. She says: "Knowing what he was capable of, I watched her like a hawk. I hoped he'd never hurt her." A year later, aged 11, Mary started her period. After that, her dad's abuse stopped. Most Read in News UNDER FIRE What to know about Judge Michelle Odinet 'SHOPPING CART KILLER' 'Serial killer' who moves bodies in Target cart is probed as 4 slain IN COLD BLOOD Mexican actress shot dead while waiting to pick up her son, 11, from football TIKTOK THREAT Warning over challenge that urges kids to bring WEAPONS to school tomorrow CASHFLOW Five stimulus check payment programs to replace the monthly $300 child tax credit WE WANT JUSTICE Grieving dad of model's friend wants three suspects hit with MURDER charges FILTHY DEN Inside home where model & friend spent last hours before being left for dead MIND YOUR SAFETY What to know about the December 17 TikTok challenge in schools DEATH TRAP Deadliest animals that can kill humans in SECONDS with bites, stings and poison HOME OF HORRORS Suspects spotted leaving apartment where model & friend seen before deaths She moved in with her mum the following year, but despite being free from her dad's clutches, she couldn't bring herself to tell her about the abuse. As Mary reached her teens and learnt about relationships, she realised what he'd done wasn't normal. She says: "I never wanted to speak to him again." Brought to justice Mary went on to have two children and met her husband, Steve Crossan, 62, a retired taxi driver. In 2014, she discovered her aunty Sheila had been abused as a child by Knott. Mary confessed that she had also been preyed upon, but the pair decided to keep it secret. It wasn't until her younger sister Bernie broke down in 2019 and revealed she too had been abused that they all decided to report him. Mary says: "When I discovered my little sister had been abused by Dad, I felt so guilty. "I tried to protect her, but ultimately she was never safe." Disgustingly, Knott denied the abuse and the trio were forced to give evidence against him. My dad should've been my protector; instead he was an evil predator Mary Crossan Knott lied, telling the jury he'd never lived with Mary and denied Bernie was even his daughter. Thankfully, he was found guilty on 19 sexual abuse charges. He was convicted of two counts of having sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and 11 counts of indecent assault of a girl under 14 against Mary. Additionally, he was found guilty of two counts of gross indecency with a child under 14 against Bernie, and four counts of indecent assault against Sheila. In April, Knott was caged for 25 years at Nottingham Crown Court. Mary says: "My dad should've been my protector; instead he was an evil predator. My only hope is that people will read this story and hopefully find the strength and courage to report abuse, however long ago Mary Crossan's sister Bernie "Please speak out if you've been abused. It'll eat away at you if you don't." Bernie adds: "It was one of the most difficult and sickening feelings realising that it wasn't just me that he had done this to, and I knew I had to tell Mary the truth before I went to the police. I owed this to her. "I love my sister and to say that I am immensely proud of her is an understatement. I'm proud of all of us. "This whole situation has brought us all closer together. "Without the support of my husband, I wouldn't have been able to disclose the abuse I had suffered as a child. "My only hope is that people will read this story and hopefully find the strength and courage to report abuse, however long ago. People will believe you." WHERE CAN I GET HELP? You don't have to suffer in silence. If you are experiencing domestic violence or someone you know is there are groups that can help. Refuge runs a free, 24-hour helpline on 0808 2000 247. You can also visit the website or contact Women's Aid. 
HotSpot MediaMary, pictured now, bravely waived her anonymity to share her story to encourage other victims of abuse to come forward '/ ' 
HotSpot MediaKnott was caged for 25 years at Nottingham Crown Court in April '/ ' Source:
