A years-old abuse case was brought to justice thanks to the bravery of two sisters, one of whom used therapy to recall buried memories. Nikita Dallison and Mellissa Arkwright, who were six and seven years old respectively when their half-brother Adrian Austin began abusing them, saw their abuser sentenced to 17 years in prison in July.
Mellissa Arkwright, 35, had no recollection of the abuse she suffered as a child. It was only after her older sister, Nikita Dallison, 36, reported the abuse to the police in 2021 that Mellissa decided to undergo eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
This type of talking therapy uses stimuli such as sounds, tapping, or flashing lights to help individuals access and process traumatic memories. "I needed therapy because my mental health had spiralled way out of control... but I never understood why," Arkwright said. "It's horrific when you have it, because you feel every single sensation. You can feel the atmosphere in the room when you're having that therapy."
The therapy unlocked a specific memory for Arkwright that became a vital piece of evidence in the case against Austin. Now 45, Austin was found guilty of six counts of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, which is classified as rape under current sexual offenses legislation. He was also convicted of four counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child, with offenses occurring between 1997 and 2001.
"It's still upsetting thinking about that day [when he was found guilty] because we got justice for those little girls," Arkwright stated. "It was very surreal and I don't think I've ever cried like I did that day. It was like a whole weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I knew that it was over with. He can't hurt anyone anymore."
