Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

A woman who was raped by serial Leeds sex offender Paul Waites found the courage to report her abuser in the hope of encouraing other victims to come forward.

The mum described the years of suffering she has endured since she was subjected to the callous attack in the former model's flat when she was a schoolgirl.

Waites, of Broad Lane, Bramley, was given a life sentence after being found guilty of rape over the incident which took place in 2005.

It is the third time Waites has been convicted of serious sex offences against teenage girls.

Then and now. Modelling photo of Paul Waites (left) taken around the time he engaged in a 'campaign of rape' against schoolgirls. A recent custody mugshot of Waites (right) taken after spending a decade behind bars.

Waites was a model aged in his 30s at the time and would target vulnerable youngsters by handing out flowers outside a supermarket.

The predatory paedophile was told it is possible he may never be released from prison because of the danger he poses to teenage girls.

After a 15-year wait for justice, the victim described how Waites' offending had taken its toll on her life.

She blamed him for the breakdown of her marriage and for her inability to trust people.

Paul Waites has been given a life sentence after being found guilty of raping a girl at his flat in Leeds in 2005.

The woman, who cannot be identified, praised the police and Crown Prosecution Service for supporting her and helping to ensure Waites remains in custody.

The victim said she hopes the latest conviction would encourage other victims to come forward.

She told Leeds Crown Court: "I have never blamed anyone but myself for getting into his car outside of school.

"By getting into his car and him driving off with me, it triggered my life to skew off in a totally different path to the one I was on.

Paul Waites was told he might never be released from prison because of the danger he poses to teenage girls.

"I was a happy, confident girl before that day but it all changed overnight.

"I didn't trust in people any more, and would second guess a person's intentions if they wanted to spend time with me.

"Growing up I struggled with intimacy and sexual relationships.

'There are other victims of his out there probably suffering like I was': Rape victim speaks out to give hope to other women who may have been abused by predatory Leeds paedophile Paul Waites