Aberdeen Woman Breaks Silence on Childhood Abuse
A woman from Aberdeen, Scotland, has spoken publicly about being repeatedly raped by her father as a child.
Now 33, Nikki Houston has waived her right to anonymity after her father, Duncan Houston, was sentenced to four years in prison for multiple counts of rape and abuse between 1994 and 2002.
“My first memory is of the abuse,” Nikki told BBC Scotland News. “It started when I was four years old. I remember every detail, the smell, the fear, and even his tears afterward. It destroyed my childhood.”
‘This Is Not Justice’: Survivor Reacts to Sentence
Although relieved by the guilty verdict, Nikki said she felt disappointed by the length of the prison term handed down at the High Court in Edinburgh.
“I am disgusted. This is not justice”, she said.
Judge Lady Drummond stated that the four-year sentence reflected additional jail time Duncan would have received if the earlier offences had been known during his original 2000 trial, when he was already sentenced to nine years for rape.
Despite this, Nikki expressed frustration: “He has never taken responsibility for what he did. He was evil, absolute evil.”
‘He Was Charming to Everyone Else, But Cruel Behind Closed Doors’
Nikki described her father, a former soldier, as outwardly charming but “very cruel for no reason.”
By age six, she was cooking and cleaning for him, or facing violence if she didn’t.
“He would hit me or push me down the stairs. I thought it was normal, part of growing up.”
To her friends, Nikki appeared to be a happy, ordinary child. But behind closed doors, she lived in constant fear.
Finding Small Moments of Light
During her darkest years, Nikki said she found comfort during visits to her grandparents.
“Every Wednesday, I’d go for supper with my grandma and grandad. We’d laugh and dance, those memories kept me going.”
The Long Road to Justice
Nikki reported her father to police more than 20 years after the abuse began.
Speaking to the police, she said, was “surprisingly not scary”.
“I just called 101, explained my situation, and they arranged an appointment. The officers made me feel safe. After giving my statement, I waited, but I didn’t mind, because I knew justice was finally coming.”
A jury took less than an hour to find Duncan Houston guilty of rape and lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices.
Detective Inspector Ryan Morris of Police Scotland commended Nikki’s bravery:
“Our investigation revealed a cruel and predatory individual who exploited a child for his own ends. Nikki’s courage has been extraordinary.”
‘Tell Someone, Anyone’
Nikki now uses her voice to encourage other survivors to come forward.
“It’s a powerful feeling, taking your power back. It’s freeing”, she said.
“Tell someone, anyone. Even a stranger. Write it down if you can’t say it. Once you do, that weight will lift.”
She hopes sharing her story will remind others that healing and justice are possible:
“I’ve never seen a future before, but now, I’m excited for it. Finally.”