Former Wisbech woman was repeatedly raped as a child now she's on a mission

A woman who was repeatedly raped by her father as a young child has launched a Government petition to stop convicted sex offenders from changing their names.

Tracey Western says she suffered numerous assaults by the man she called 'Dad', and who was eventually jailed in July 1991 for the rape of a child.

The married mum of five, who was living in Southwell Road, Wisbech at the time of the rapes, and now lives outside the district, has cut all ties with her family, but was horrified to spot the man responsible on Facebook, under a new name.

She said: "I was horrified that he was able to be on social media under a different name to the one he was convicted under. I contacted Facebook straight away, because social media is no place for people like him.

"But I was told that because he was using a different name to the one he had when he was convicted, they can't do anything about it. I think that is so wrong. Paedophiles and other sex offenders should not be allowed to use things like Facebook, they are places where they could easily lure vulnerable people into befriending them.

"However, Facebook is adamant they won't delete his account without absolute proof it is the same man, and I can't do that. I cut all ties with him when he was sent to prison. I haven't laid eyes on him since then, until he popped up on Facebook."

Now Tracey, who has waived her right to the anonymity afforded all victims of sexual crimes,has launched a petition calling on the Government to make it illegal for those convicted of such offences from ever changing their names.

She said: "It is a horrifying fact that 900 sex offenders disappear off the police's radar each year simply because they change their name. The onus is on them to inform police and other authorities that they are using a different name, either because they have officially changed it by deed poll or just by choosing to be called something different.

"I really don't believe these people should be able to change their name by any means. They should always be known by the name under which they were convicted. They should not be able to hide.

"Survivors like myself can't hide from what we went through, it is with us for life, and it should be with the perpetrators for life too.

"I have chosen to live the best life I can. I am happily married to a man I met when I was 16, and we have five beautiful children. They all know what happened to me and are very supportive.

"The only good thing about this man being on Facebook is that I have been able to know what he looks like now. I visit Wisbech often, and have always worried about seeing him in the street. If I see someone that looked like he did 30 years ago I wonder if it is him, but now I know and I feel much better for that.

"But having said that, he should not be on Facebook, he should not have that right, and he should not be known under a different name and nor should anyone else like him - they lost that right the minute they committed their crimes.

"I really hope people get behind me and support this petition, I truly believe it is the right thing and that the law needs to be changed."

To sign the petition visit: petition.parliament.uk