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'I’d hit rock bottom'

Karen Danczuk tried to kill herself after being raped by her paedophile brother

KAREN Danczuk revealed yesterday she tried to kill herself years after being raped by her paedophile brother.

The 33-year-old ex-wife of an MP, was attacked by Michael Burke when she was aged between nine and 11.

Karen was attacked by Michael Burke when she was aged between nine and 11
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Karen was attacked by Michael Burke when she was aged between nine and 11Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

She said: “I wanted the pain to end and thought ending my life was the only way.

“I wouldn’t have to live with my horrible secret.

“I spent hours researching how to do it online.

“I’d hit rock bottom.

“I swallowed pills but would always end up throwing them up.”

Burke, 38, was convicted by a jury of raping her on Wednesday. He is facing a jail sentence.

He was convicted by a jury of raping her on Wednesday and is now facing a jail sentence
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He was convicted by a jury of raping her on Wednesday and is now facing a jail sentenceCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvin Media

Karen now says she may forgive him.

She said: “If he admitted what he did was wrong, that would help.

“But at the moment he is completely in denial.

“I’m hoping his time in jail will enable him to think about what he did and apologise.

“I’m not one to hold on to hate and anger.”

Karen says the childhood ordeal haunted her after she started a family with Labour MP Simon Danczuk, 50.

Karen says the childhood ordeal haunted her after she started a family with Labour MP Simon Danczuk
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She says the childhood ordeal haunted her after she started a family with Labour MP Simon DanczukCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Now mum to Milton, eight, and Maurice, six, she said: “I couldn’t believe how small and precious my first born was.

“I suffered anxiety attacks and flashbacks about what happened when I was just a girl.”

She told Simon who persuaded her to get medical help.

Karen, of Rochdale, said: “When I came clean about my suicide attempts I was sectioned.”

But she fled before she could be treated.

She said: “That’s when I stopped being in denial.

“I agreed to therapy and it saved my life.

“I thank Simon too, he was great.

“I’m so glad I’m alive for my boys.

“And I want to show people that there is a way out – tell someone, anyone, even just a doctor.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel.”

But Karen blasted her own estranged family over her court ordeal, saying: “My biological family, who I’m estranged from, have been horrendous.

“Quite frankly, I hate them all, so they can all just go and rot in hell as far as I’m concerned.

Karen revealed she received virtually no support from her family
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Karen revealed she received virtually no support from her familyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

“Apart from my sister, I’ve had absolutely no support.

“My mum has been in and out of my life so I’m not expecting a phone call from her.

“She was heartbroken to learn her dad submitted a statement for the defence weeks before the trial.

Dad-of-three Burke was also convicted at Manchester crown court of raping a girl aged 12 or 13, and a woman between 2008 and 2010.


DO YOU NEED HELP? Call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a branch or go to .


 

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