Adelle Overton's relationship of 13 years with Steven Uden shattered when she discovered he had been raping her while she slept. Uden, who had been Overton's caregiver after she became disabled, eventually confessed to the assaults, leading to his arrest and a prison sentence.
Overton and Uden met in 2009 and became a couple in January 2012. Overton described Uden as a kind and loving partner who even gave up his work to care for her after she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in 2017. "He was wonderful. I loved him deeply, and I think I still kind of do a bit," Overton stated.
The initial signs of betrayal emerged in 2020 while Overton was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. She woke up during an assault and Uden offered excuses, which Overton initially accepted due to the stress of her medical treatment. "I guess it was easier to believe the lie than process what the truth might have been," she recalled.
Uden's Confession and Arrest
Five years later, in 2025, Uden himself began treatment for bowel cancer. Overton believes his own health crisis prompted him to confess. During a conversation that spanned two days, Uden reportedly called a friend to admit his actions before returning home to confess to Overton. "I think something must have been playing on his mind, because now he was seeing what I was going through from the other side," Overton said.
Overton's therapist encouraged her to report the abuse to the police. Following this advice, Derbyshire Police arrested Uden. Detective Sergeant Eleanor Kirton of Derbyshire Police stated that Uden "immediately confessed to what he'd done" upon being interviewed. He was subsequently charged with two counts of rape and pleaded guilty in court, receiving a sentence of six years and eight months.
Kirton commended Overton's bravery, noting that her actions helped protect other potential victims. "Her bravery and resilience has meant that we've safeguarded so many other people, that this person could have continued doing these offences to," Kirton said.
Overton suspects Uden may have been using her own sedative medication to ensure she remained asleep during the assaults. While the case was historic, and forensic evidence could not confirm her suspicions, Uden did admit to raping Overton once during her chemotherapy when she was particularly fatigued and under the influence of medication.
Overton believes Uden may have committed the assaults more times than he admitted, stating he claimed to have done so seven or eight times. Her daughter, Shari Overton, expressed pride in her mother for her courage in coming forward. Overton hopes her story will encourage other vulnerable individuals to speak out against abuse, especially those reliant on caregivers. "I used to think for a few months after I found everything out, that maybe it was some kind of payment for his care. Maybe I owed him that intimacy. But I didn't and nobody else does either."