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| Karen Danczuk's brother jailed for raping her and two other women | Karen Danczuk's brother jailed for raping her and two other women |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The brother of Karen Danczuk has been jailed for 15 years for raping her and two other women. | The brother of Karen Danczuk has been jailed for 15 years for raping her and two other women. |
| Michael Burke, 38, was jailed after being convicted of eight counts of rape and one other serious sexual offence against her and two other women following a trial last month. | Michael Burke, 38, was jailed after being convicted of eight counts of rape and one other serious sexual offence against her and two other women following a trial last month. |
| Danczuk, 33, the former wife of MP Simon Danczuk, waived her right to anonymity as a victim of sexual offences to brand her brother a “monster”, who had “robbed me of my childhood”. | Danczuk, 33, the former wife of MP Simon Danczuk, waived her right to anonymity as a victim of sexual offences to brand her brother a “monster”, who had “robbed me of my childhood”. |
| During the three-week trial at Manchester crown court, Danczuk, who has two children, told the court her brother abused her at the family home in Middleton, near Rochdale, from the age of six and raped her from the age of 11 until her mid-teens. | |
| Burke denied 15 counts of rape, one attempted rape and one indecent assault against his sister and two other women, spanning 1992 to 2010. | |
| But the jury found him guilty of eight counts of rape and another serious sexual offence against the three women, including three counts of rape against his sister between 1992 and 1994. | But the jury found him guilty of eight counts of rape and another serious sexual offence against the three women, including three counts of rape against his sister between 1992 and 1994. |
| He was cleared of nine other serious sexual offences. The two other women have not waived their right to anonymity and cannot be identified. | He was cleared of nine other serious sexual offences. The two other women have not waived their right to anonymity and cannot be identified. |
| Dressed in a navy blue suit, Burke, a former school governor and Labour party activist, shook his head and threw up his hands as he stood in the dock and was sentenced. | Dressed in a navy blue suit, Burke, a former school governor and Labour party activist, shook his head and threw up his hands as he stood in the dock and was sentenced. |
| Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Gilbart said: “She was your little sister, over whom you held sway. Your actions affected her emotionally well into adulthood. As she put it, instead of looking back on her first sexual experience as something to be remembered fondly, she looked back on being raped by her brother before she reached puberty. | Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Gilbart said: “She was your little sister, over whom you held sway. Your actions affected her emotionally well into adulthood. As she put it, instead of looking back on her first sexual experience as something to be remembered fondly, she looked back on being raped by her brother before she reached puberty. |
| “You groomed her. Your little sister was your playmate and susceptible to anything you suggested. You have shown not a shred of remorse.” | “You groomed her. Your little sister was your playmate and susceptible to anything you suggested. You have shown not a shred of remorse.” |
| Reality TV star Danczuk was not in court but her father sat in the public gallery to see his son jailed. Karen Danczuk had told the jury the abuse had ruined her schooling, left her incapable of love and intimacy and that she had received counselling struggling with depression and anxiety. | |
| Prosecutor Peter Wright QC, said Danczuk’s personal problems stemmed from the abuse by her brother. He said: “The catalyst for the treatment she sought, we respectfully submit, is the abuse she suffered at the hands of this defendant. This abuse that was suffered by her at an early age, blighted her life throughout her childhood and into her adulthood. Blighted her ability to form and maintain relationships. | Prosecutor Peter Wright QC, said Danczuk’s personal problems stemmed from the abuse by her brother. He said: “The catalyst for the treatment she sought, we respectfully submit, is the abuse she suffered at the hands of this defendant. This abuse that was suffered by her at an early age, blighted her life throughout her childhood and into her adulthood. Blighted her ability to form and maintain relationships. |
| “It’s a legacy she has borne in her formative years and into adulthood. It involves the rape of a child, in her own bed, under her own roof, involving a family member, at dead of night.” | “It’s a legacy she has borne in her formative years and into adulthood. It involves the rape of a child, in her own bed, under her own roof, involving a family member, at dead of night.” |
| He added: “There’s multiple victims, a background of coercion.” | He added: “There’s multiple victims, a background of coercion.” |
| Gilbart described Burke as “violent and controlling” who showed no remorse and was considered a danger to women. He was given an extended five years on licence when he is released from jail after serving his sentence and put on the sex offender register for life. | Gilbart described Burke as “violent and controlling” who showed no remorse and was considered a danger to women. He was given an extended five years on licence when he is released from jail after serving his sentence and put on the sex offender register for life. |
| An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Justice has caught up with Burke, who must have thought his crimes were consigned to history. | An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Justice has caught up with Burke, who must have thought his crimes were consigned to history. |
| “There is no doubt the sex abuse Burke committed against these women has had a lasting effect on their lives. But today is proof survivors of abuse will be listened to if they come forward and action will be taken. We hope they will now get the support they need to recover.” | “There is no doubt the sex abuse Burke committed against these women has had a lasting effect on their lives. But today is proof survivors of abuse will be listened to if they come forward and action will be taken. We hope they will now get the support they need to recover.” |