Woman who was sexually abused by her neighbour at the age of eight reveals years later on Facebook how he tormented her and boasted about joining the Metropolitan Police

• Katy Burns was attacked at the age of eight by Alex Law, who was 15 at the time
• Law was dismissed from the Metropolitan Police following his conviction

The mother of one has revealed that her trauma of being sexually abused by a neighbour at the age of eight was exacerbated when he became a police officer with the Metropolitan Police.

Shamed police officer Alex Law, now 43, told Katy Burns, now 36, that he would kill her little brother if she told anyone about his abuse.

For fear of the possible consequences, Katy didn’t tell anyone about it.

But years later, Law wrote to her on Facebook that he had joined the police and Katy knew he could no longer get away with his crimes.

In April, more than 20 years after his attack, Law was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after admitting two counts of sexual assault.

Now Katy from Northumberland has bravely waived her right to anonymity to encourage other survivors to report their abusers.

The aromatherapist said: “Alex’s abuse ruined my life.

“When I found out he was a police officer and worked with vulnerable people, I felt sick. I knew I had to speak up and get him off the streets.

“I hope that when I share my story, other survivors will do the same. I want them to know that people are listening and that they care.”

When Katy was seven, she moved to the same street as Law, who was 14 at the time.

Katy and her little brother played with Law and other children from the neighborhood.

Katy said: “Alex was an observer. He was always pretty quiet.”

When she was eight years old, she rode her bike with her brother and Law, who was almost 16 at the time, into the woods surrounding the city.

But the forest path was overgrown with nettles.

Katy explained: “Alex offered to give me a piggyback ride because I was wearing shorts.

“As I got on his back, he slid his hands under my shorts before penetrating me with his finger.

“I shouted at him to stop, but he threatened to throw me into the nettles.”

Law continued walking with Katy on his back while her brother had already run ahead.

When they reached the clearing, Law dropped Katy off and abused her again.

Katy says: “My brother made a noise so Alex quickly stopped.

“He said, ‘I’ll kill your brother if you tell anyone.'”

Afraid of what might happen if she said something, Katy remained silent, but she knew what Law had done was wrong.

Afterwards, Katy distanced herself from him and made friends with other people in the village.

“Growing up, I felt dirty and was constantly angry with myself,” she said.

“I thought, if I have to keep such a big secret, then I must have done something wrong.”

Years passed and when Katy was 16, she met Law by chance in the pub. He tried to talk to her, but she ignored him.

Days later, Law visited her house and knocked on the door.

Katy said: “I refused to go down and see him and had a panic attack.”

“He sat downstairs and chatted with my mother for ten minutes before he left.”

After that, she didn’t hear from him again until he sent her a message on Facebook a few years later.

Katy said: “He told me he had joined the Metropolitan Police and sent me a photo of himself in his uniform and in the back of a police car holding a gun.”

“My thoughts immediately went back to his threat: ‘I will kill your brother if you ever tell anyone.'”

“Well,” I replied, pretending to be happy for him. But deep down I was furious.

“I couldn’t understand how he could behave like a respectable officer while I was suffering.”

For years, Law continued to message Katy, telling her about his life and his growing family.

She said: “He tormented me. I couldn’t escape him.”

“I really wanted to report him, but I was afraid that no one would believe me except a police officer.”

But in April 2022, Katy got him to confess his crimes via Facebook Messenger.

“He told me he was sorry and that he always felt guilty for what he did to me,” she said.

“I took a screenshot of his messages and thought, ‘I got him.'”

In December of that year, Katy submitted an online form to Northumbria Police detailing the abuse she had suffered.

The next day she was asked to go to the police station, where she gave her statement to a policewoman.

Katy then conducted a video interview with Detective Constable Phil Trotter, who led the investigation.

Katy said: “I was terrified, but the two officers made me feel safe and believed me.”

Law was subsequently questioned, but he denied everything.

In November 2023, he was suspended from the Metropolitan Police.

At a hearing in March this year, Law admitted two counts of indecent assault on a woman under the age of 14.

The following month he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison at Newcastle Crown Court.

Following his conviction, Law was dismissed from the Metropolitan Police.

Katy said: “His sentence is nothing compared to what he did to me.”

“Bringing him to court was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

“But now at least everyone knows who he really is.”