Disabled woman bravely reveals how her father sexually abused her when she was 15


A disabled woman has revealed how her father sexually abused her as a 15-year-old when her condition meant she was unable to defend herself. 

Hayley Samani, 27, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, was just 10 years old when she began suffering from myotonic dystrophy, which causes her joints to randomly lock. 

On Valentine’s Day in 2007, Ms Samani’s father, Matthew Brian Gilbert, 50, abused her. 

Hayley Samani, 27, (pictured) from Lowestoft, Suffolk, has revealed the horrific abuse she suffered from her paedophilic father, Matthew Brian Gilbert, 50

Matthew Brian Gilbert, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child under 16 at Ipswich Crown Court

Matthew Brian Gilbert, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child under 16 at Ipswich Crown Court

Hayley Samani, 27, (left) from Lowestoft, Suffolk, has revealed the horrific abuse she suffered from her paedophilic father, Matthew Brian Gilbert, 50 (right)

She was helpless, unable to move or fight him off after the muscles in her arms and legs stiffened.  

In June 2008, Gilbert was convicted of sexually abusing his daughter and jailed for just one year and two months.

Now, Ms Samani is speaking out for the first time and bravely waiving her anonymity to reveal the extent of her father’s sordid abuse.

She said: ‘My dad took advantage of my disability and that’s what hurts me the most.

She was helpless, unable to move or fight him off after the muscles in her arms and legs stiffened. Pictured is Ms Samani in 2002 aged 10

She was helpless, unable to move or fight him off after the muscles in her arms and legs stiffened. Pictured is Ms Samani in 2002 aged 10

She was helpless, unable to move or fight him off after the muscles in her arms and legs stiffened. Pictured is Ms Samani in 2002 aged 10

‘If I didn’t report him when I did, I think he would have gone on to rape me.’

Growing up, Ms Samani loved going to the park with her dad and he would call her his ‘daddy’s girl.’

In September 1999, after Ms Samani turned six, Gilbert asked her to give him a back massage.

She said: ‘I always jumped in excitement and loved pretending I was a masseuse.

‘But as I got older, I hated seeing Dad without his top on and found it really weird.

‘Every morning Dad would wait for me in his bedroom with his top off, then he’d make me rub his back.

‘When I was eight, I snapped and asked why my mum couldn’t do it instead.

‘Dad told me it was because Mum had enough to do around the house and I needed to help her out.’

Two years later, in March 2003, then aged 10, Hayley’s joints began to stiffen up.

Gilbert would force Hayley to give him massages while he sat on his bed topless. When she got slightly older he would stare at her in bed every night

Gilbert would force Hayley to give him massages while he sat on his bed topless. When she got slightly older he would stare at her in bed every night

Gilbert would force Hayley to give him massages while he sat on his bed topless. When she got slightly older he would stare at her in bed every night

Some mornings when she tried to get out of bed, she’d collapse to the floor.

She said: ‘One day I couldn’t move my arms at all, I was terrified.

‘Mum took me to the doctors where they did tests, but they had no idea what was wrong with me.

‘After that, I had good days and bad days. Some days I could run, while others I couldn’t even get out of bed.

‘Thankfully because of my condition, Dad stopped asking me for massages.’

Three years later, when Hayley was 13, she went to a family barbecue with her parents.

Hayley said: ‘On the way back home, Dad made a comment about one of my mum’s friends, saying how pretty she was.

On Valentine's Day 2007, Ms Samani woke up with her father's hands in her underwear while he fondled her

On Valentine's Day 2007, Ms Samani woke up with her father's hands in her underwear while he fondled her

On Valentine’s Day 2007, Ms Samani woke up with her father’s hands in her underwear while he fondled her 

‘The next day, Dad came up to me and said I looked like mum’s pretty friend from the day before.

‘I felt really weird and ignored him.’

Later that night, Hayley woke up to her dad staring at her from the end of her bed.

Hayley said: ‘Dad said he wanted to check my muscles weren’t playing up.

‘I wanted to tell Mum how creepy he was being, but I kept it to myself.’

During the next two years, Gilbert continued to sneak into Hayley’s bedroom every night.

Hayley said: 'I started to cry and wanted to scream for Mum, but I froze. I couldn't move at all. It was so frustrating'

Hayley said: 'I started to cry and wanted to scream for Mum, but I froze. I couldn't move at all. It was so frustrating'

After the assault was over, Hayley managed to get the strength to walk two miles to her aunt's house

After the assault was over, Hayley managed to get the strength to walk two miles to her aunt's house

Hayley said: ‘I started to cry and wanted to scream for Mum, but I froze. I couldn’t move at all. It was so frustrating’

Then on Valentine’s Day 2007, the family were on a flight home from a trip to Slovakia.

Hayley said: ‘On the plane Dad sat next to me instead of Mum.

‘When we arrived back home, Mum stormed off to her bedroom and I went to bed.

‘Hours later I woke up to Dad’s hands in my pants. He was fondling me.

‘I quickly tried to push him off me but my arm stiffened.

‘I started to cry and wanted to scream for Mum, but I froze. I couldn’t move at all. It was so frustrating.

‘After what felt like an eternity, Dad finally stopped.

‘Then he said, ”Your mum has given me no attention and it’s Valentine’s Day.”

‘After he left the room I still couldn’t move, I felt so helpless.’

She confessed to her what had happened and her aunt called the police. Gilbert was arrested back at the family home later that night

She confessed to her what had happened and her aunt called the police. Gilbert was arrested back at the family home later that night

She confessed to her what had happened and her aunt called the police. Gilbert was arrested back at the family home later that night

Eventually, Hayley mustered the strength to get out of bed and walk two miles to her aunt’s house.

She confessed to her what had happened and her aunt called the police.

Gilbert was arrested back at the family home later that night.

Hayley says: ‘My mum rushed to the police station where I was giving a statement.

‘When I saw her she was hysterically crying. Although she was shocked, I was relieved she believed me.’

In June 2008, Matthew Brian Gilbert, 50, of Lowestoft, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child under 16 at Ipswich Crown Court.

He was jailed for one year and two months.

Hayley says: ‘Mum and I were happy, he deserved to be in jail. He took advantage of me when I was at my weakest.

‘One month later, Mum filed for divorce.

‘Growing up it made me feel sick having Dad’s name so when I turned 21, I legally changed it.’

In June 2016, Hayley was finally diagnosed with type 1 myotonic dystrophy, a long-term genetic disorder that affects muscle function.

Hayley says: ‘Now I’m disabled and unable to work, but my fiancé looks after me.

‘I’ll never forgive my dad for what he did.

‘At least I have my mother who always believed in me.’