Flintshire teenager's message to sexual offence victims

The Leader reported last week how 36-year-old Ben Gleeson, of Bryn Derw in Flint was jailed for engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Victims of sexual offences receive automatic lifelong anonymity by law - which prevents any news organisation from including their name or any other information likely to lead to them being identified in reports of such court cases.

However Ben Gleeson's victim, 16-year-old Chloe Gibbs, has bravely chosen to lift her anonymity in order to share her story, and the full details of the sentencing.

She and her mum, Sarah Anstee, hope it will give courage to other victims of sexual offences to reach out for help.

Chloe was just 14 when Gleeson, Miss Anstee's then boyfriend, sent the vile request to her.

Ben Gleeson (North Wales Police) (Image: NWP)

In the weeks leading up to it, there had been a "friendly exchange" between them on Snapchat before he moved into the family home.

Once he was in the property, he started using inappropriate terms, calling her 'babe' and 'gorgeous.'

On February 8, 2022, Chloe had gone to bed, leaving her mum in Gleeson's company.

The defendant had been drinking, but was "not described as drunk," the court heard.

At around 11pm, Chloe received the messages - asking for indecent images of herself.

"It'll stay between us," Gleeson told her - attempting to buy her silence by offering her an "unlimited vape supply."

Chloe was immediately scared and upset, and showed her mum what Gleeson had done.

The defendant protested his innocence, claiming his phone had been "hacked," and became angry when confronted.

He raised his fists at Miss Anstee as if to hit her, but he ended up hitting a set of lights on the wall and continued with his aggressive behaviour, shouting: "Do you really think that of me?"

Chloe told the Leader: "It was really scary, because I knew he was in the house when he sent it.

"I didn't know what to do, and whether to let my mum know or not.

"I wanted to tell her, but I was more scared about what she'd think - because this was her boyfriend at the time.

"But I didn't want it to go any further, or know what he'd do, so I told her. I was really upset."

Gleeson's actions had a profound toll on Chloe's mental health, and initially she declined counselling or therapy.

She did accept counselling through her school some time later, and said she now recognises that she should have taken it up sooner.

"If people get offered help," she advised, "I'd tell them to take it and not to turn it down straight away.

"That's definitely something I should have done at the beginning.

"I was set on doing it by myself, but further down the line I realised I couldn't - I needed that support."

Chloe also urged anyone who finds themselves being targeted - online or in person, by a family member or a stranger - to reach out for help.

"I really don't want anyone else to go through what I did," she said.

"It was really hard to deal with.

Sarah Anstee with her daughter Chloe Gibbs (Image: Sarah Anstee)

"It knocked me in every way possible with my mental health and my confidence.

"I was scared to go out, and I don't want to say everyone's the same but I got really scared about being around men mainly.

"Be very careful about who you're engaging with and talking to - don't believe what people put on social media or what they say to you on it.

"There are a lot of deceiving people out there.

"And I'd say to people - don't be afraid to talk to a family member or a friend, or someone, about it.

"You might feel like you're the one in the wrong, or that you don't want to talk about it.

"But you don't realise until you speak how many people will support you and help you through it."

Chloe said Gleeson's 10 month sentence had given her a sense of justice, adding: "The whole experience was horrible and it has gone on for so long.

"Before he was sentenced, even though I knew it happened, in a way I could make myself not believe it to stop from getting upset.

"But now he's locked up, it feels a lot more real.

"A lot of people didn't believe me or my mum.

"And I know people will have questions and recognise me and want to talk to me - and I am fine for that to happen.

"Because I know I was not in the wrong - he admitted what he did and now I have my justice."

Miss Anstee, who spoke out before her daughter lifted her anonymity warning parents to speak to their children about the dangers of social media, said: "This was such a breach of trust.

"[Gleeson is] someone who came into my home, claimed to love and want to protect us.

"He did the complete opposite. It was the ultimate betrayal.

"He was someone my daughter looked up to.

"And after it happened, it just made me question everything - the whole relationship. Was the whole thing a lie? Was he there for other reasons?

"It was such a strange scenario."

Miss Anstee described her daughter as a "bright, strong-minded young lady" who wants to use her experience to help others.

Chloe added: "There was many a time when things became a lot.

"But one thing kept me going: if I do, I am going to get justice and I can help so many other people to look out for the signs.

"Or even if it's already happened to them, and they've not had the courage to speak out, I hope they know they're not alone."