My dad’s best friend groomed me for Christmas presents and sexually assaulted me when I was 14 while my dad was in the next room
A woman has revealed she was sexually abused by her father’s best friend, who groomed her with Christmas presents as a child before she confessed his love.
Katie James, 19, from Cwmbran, South Wales, knew Tino Iacovou all her life and saw him most weekends when he visited her father.
The teenager described how he was an “uncle figure” in her life and explained how Tino would shower her with sweets and gifts.
She said: ‘He used to play with me. When I was six, he bought me my favorite teddy bear, Ruby, for Christmas.”
However, Katie says their ‘uncle-niece’ relationship changed when she reached teenage years.
Pictured: Katie James, 19, from Cwmbran, South Wales. The teenager was forced to testify against her abuser last year when he initially denied the assault had taken place
She explained, “One day we were all in my kitchen.
‘I jumped on Tino’s back for a piggyback ride, but his hands hit my buttocks, and he kept them there for a while.
‘I felt uncomfortable and quickly jumped off.
“He acted as if nothing had happened and continued to talk to my father.”
Afterwards, Katie says that Tino regularly started to become too clingy towards her.
The teen remembers Tino ‘constantly’ asking for hugs and offering her back massages.
Katie explained, “I let him because I thought I trusted him.”
After this, Katie remembered how Tino wouldn’t come to her father’s house without bringing her a gift.
Katie said Tino Iacovou (pictured) was an ‘uncle figure’ in her life and she would see him most weekends when she visited her father
Pictured: Tino gives Katie a piglet back at her father’s house before the attack. Katie says Tino became more affectionate towards her as she got older
She said: ‘He always came over with sweets for me and stones and crystals that he knew I collected.
“The next Christmas he even helped my dad buy me an Xbox. I started to feel really uncomfortable around him.”
In 2018, Tino sexually assaulted Katie – who was 14 at the time – in the living room of her father’s house.
The pair were watching TV while Katie’s dad was in bed.
She explained: ‘Tino came and lay next to me on the couch.
Katie pictured as a child. The 19-year-old knew Tino all her life but said their ‘uncle-niece’ relationship changed as she got older
Pictured: Katie James. Katie described their early relationship: ‘He used to play with me. When I was six, he bought me my favorite teddy bear, Ruby, for Christmas.”
Pictured: Undated photo of Katie’s abuser Tino Iacovou, who was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in November 2022
‘Suddenly he lifted my pajama top and felt my breasts, before moving his hand to my trouser leg and groping my genitals.
‘I was in complete shock and didn’t know what to say or do.’
Katie says Tino only stopped because she heard her father moving in his bedroom.
But then he rocked Katie, kissed her and told her he loved her.
After the attack, Katie was left traumatized and said she never wanted to be near Tino, choosing to stay in her room when he came to visit.
When she inevitably had to see him, Katie said Tino acted as if nothing had happened and insisted on sitting next to her and hugging her.
She explained: ‘For a while I couldn’t understand what had happened.
‘But a month later it hit me like a ton of bricks. I started having panic attacks and isolated myself in my bedroom, away from my family.”
The teenager (pictured) described how he was an ‘uncle figure’ in her life and explained how Tino would shower her with sweets and gifts
Katie (pictured) added: ‘The sentence means nothing for what he did to me. During the process I felt ridiculed and embarrassed’
After this, Katie found the courage to tell her mother about the attack and with the full support of her parents, she reported Tino to the police.
After his arrest, Tino denied everything, which meant the case had to go to trial.
Katie continued: ‘I was devastated that it had to go to court.
‘When I gave my evidence in court, I stood in front of Tino for what I hoped would be the last time.’
In September 2022, Tino was found guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child and sentenced to two and a half years in prison in November.
In addition, he has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life.
Katie added: “The punishment means nothing for what he did to me. During the process I felt ridiculed and embarrassed.
‘He made it clear that I was happy that he touched me. But I’m so glad I brought him to justice.
“If you have been abused, tell someone. You will be believed.”
If you have suffered from any of the issues discussed in this story, Rape crisis provides support to victims of abuse in Britain.