A TEENAGER who was repeatedly raped by her father spoke today of her never-ending nightmare and how she tried to commit suicide five times.

Lisa Metcalfe, now 19, said the abuse started when she was nine and went on until she was 16.

She said: "I still have bad dreams and flashbacks. I try to blot it out, but it's something you just can't get out of your mind.

"He's damaged me emotionally and I will never forgive him for that."

Her father, David Rookes, 41, was jailed for 12 years at Leeds Crown Court last week after being convicted of four rapes, one attempted rape, three indecent assaults and two indecencies with a child.

It is only today that we can reveal the name of his victim, after she contacted the Evening Press to reassure other victims that rapists can be brought to book, even if it is many years later.

Lisa, of Selby, said she also wanted to defend her mother, who left Rookes when the offences came to light.

She said her mum had been shunned by neighbours, who wrongly believed she had supported her ex-husband. In fact, she gave evidence against him in court.

She said: "My mother knew nothing about it. I didn't dare tell anyone because my dad said if I did I would be taken into care and he would go to prison."

The family lived in Abbots Road and Petre Avenue, Selby, before moving to Birkin. The abuse, said Lisa, started in Petre Avenue and continued at Birkin.

She said: "I used to camp out in the back garden. My dad would come into the tent to protect me, but he did exactly the opposite.

"It also happened at a car lot, where he worked as a security guard, and at his friend's house - anywhere he could.

"Later, I tried to commit suicide on five occasions, overdosing on tablets I found in the house and slashing my hands with a razor. I also ended up seeing three psychiatrists."

With the support of her boyfriend, Gary Metcalfe, 35, Lisa finally reported the attacks to police last year.

It meant going through the trauma of describing in court the abuse she had suffered, but she was determined her father would not get away with it.

She broke down crying as she gave her evidence from a room near the court via a TV link. By this time she had married Gary, was pregnant, and had set up home in another part of North Yorkshire.

She said: "I didn't get to see my father's face in court, which reduced the stress on the baby, but having to relive the abuse was very upsetting.

"If he had admitted what he had done, he could have spared me the ordeal of giving evidence.

"He's messed up my head and my life. He kept apologising, but I told him that saying sorry wouldn't change anything.

"At the end of the day he's lost out as well because he will never see my baby boy, who is due in six weeks time."

Lisa said: "It's taken me ages to trust my husband. I was wary of him at first and he had to ask my permission to give me a kiss.

"He's one in a million and has supported me all the way. I've now got a new family and a new life and I'm determined to make a go of it."

Husband Gary said: "Lisa has proved that something can be done about it, even if it's ten years later. People should not get away with things like this."

Updated: 11:12 Friday, July 11, 2003