The victim of historical sex abuse has spoken of his 30 years of living hell.

Steve Blackmore was in court on Wednesday to see his abuser finally brought to justice and he has taken the brave step of waiving his anonymity.

Donald Veale, 82, was found guilty of 13 counts of child sex abuse involving three young victims including Mr Blackmore.

The offences date back three decades to when Veale ran children’s activities at Buckmore Park, Chatham on behalf of the Scouts.

Mr Blackmore was sent to a holiday playscheme following the suicide of his father when he was just nine years old. He was abused from the ages of 10 to 15 after Veale befriended him and his family.

Mr Blackmore, now 43 and living in Gillingham, finally felt able to report the abuse two years ago after the Jimmy Savile scandal.

Following the guilty verdict this week, he spoke of his relief.

“Every day of my life has been a living hell," he said. "I have been bottling things up for 30 years and it has affected my whole life. I have lost so many things because of him. But now I feel like, at 43, I can finally start my life.”

Veale befriended Mr Blackmore from the first day he arrived at Buckmore Park. He said he still remembers it clearly.

“I was on this big yellow bus with other kids and as soon as the bus pulled up we were introduced to this stocky Scottish man. I remember him being near me all the time, he obviously took a shine to me because I was vulnerable.

"I remember him being near me all the time, he obviously took a shine to me because I was vulnerable" - Steve Blackmore

“I ended up looking up to him. He became a friend of the family and came to see my mum. He became Uncle Don.

Veale abused Mr Blackmore at the park and at his home in Hawkinge over a five-year period. He would get him to perform sexual acts as they drove to Veale’s home and give him chocolate as a reward.

Mr Blackmore said he knew it was wrong but felt he could not tell anyone what was happening.

“I was being bullied at school and beaten up every day. That started after my dad hanged himself. Kids would call me hangman. I felt like if I told anyone about the abuse it would make the bullying worse.

“I couldn’t tell my mum, she had hit the bottle after my dad’s death and wasn’t there for me. I was just a quiet little boy.”

Mr Blackmore turned to alcohol when he was just 15 and his life spiralled out of control. He became an alcoholic, spent time on the streets and says he has done things he is not proud of.

He has tried to commit suicide three times in the last 10 years. But since reporting the abuse to police, he has given up alcohol and tried to turn his life around.

Mr Blackmore gave evidence in court and was there when Veale was found guilty.

He said: “Facing him in court was hard. It was frightening. He showed no remorse. When the guilty verdicts were read out, he just nodded after each one.”

Speaking about the verdicts, he said: “I am over the moon. I never thought it would come to this. I thought people wouldn’t believe me.”

He added: “What he did will always be in my mind, but at the back of my mind. It won’t be there every time I open my eyes in the morning.

“In the last year I have achieved so much. I want to help others who may have been abused, and hopefully if they see my story it will encourage them to tell someone.

“I can finally hold my head up high and know I have not got anything to be ashamed of. I feel like I was taken and now I’m free.”

Veale, who lives on a farm in Gibraltar Lane in Hawkinge, had denied sex offences involving three youngsters, but was convicted on 13 of 14 charges.

Judge Adele Williams remanded him in custody after telling he had been convicted by the jury on “clear and compelling evidence”.

He will be sentenced later this month after the probation service prepares a report on what danger he still poses to youngsters.