A Greek Australian is among three women who brought paedophile Dimitrios Patsantzopolous, known as Jimmy Patsan, to justice.
In a bid to help other victims, Nina Kiriakidis, Naomi Gwyn, and Lauren Burrows, shared their story with the Daily Telegraph.
Kyriakidis, now aged 53, was just eight when the abuse started in 1976 and continued for four years.
Patsan, a local barber and church member, was a neighbour and father of her best friend. She was abused at Patsan’s house which her mother thought was a refuge for her children as she worked late.
Naomi, now 39, and Lauren, now 36, were preyed on by Patsan between 1990 and 1992 after he started a relationship with their mother. Naomi was aged nine when it began, Lauren was just six.
It took eight years of a police investigation and court proceedings, where Patsan’s lawyers had argued his medical condition left him unable to properly advise them before a judge found nine counts of child abuse proven.
Patsan, now in his 80s, will be formally sentenced next month.
“I will describe it as eight years of sheer spiritual, emotional, mental and physical terror,’’ Nina tells the publication.
“I’ve often thought would I do this again.
“I owe it to humanity to prevent and potentially reduce this criminal behaviour for future generations and, of course, I owe it to my little self.”
