WHEN Chris Tomlinson was befriended by his forklift instructor he thought of him as a caring father figure.
But Nicholas Holbrook targeted Chris and many other young men at his training school in Hull to sexually abuse them.
It was on one of many visits to his victim's home that Holbrook raped Chris.
For ten years, Chris struggled to cope with what had happened and attempted suicide.
It was as a result of this he found the courage to report Holbrook to the police.
Holbrook has now been jailed for seven years for raping him and sexually assaulting another trainee.
It has led to more victims coming forward.
Chris, 28 – who has waived his legal right to anonymity as a victim of a sex crime – said: "It justifies what I have done.
"All I wanted was for Holbrook to be brought to justice for what he did to me.
"I knew there must be other victims too and I wanted them to come forward so they can get closure.
"I'm just relieved that someone has finally listened to me.
"As a result of what he did I felt guilty and blamed myself and I found I couldn't reach a situation where I could form proper relationships.
"I stopped trusting men, I lost confidence in myself and I tried to take my own life because of the way I was feeling.
"The impact on my life has been severe and it changed it in a bad way. When the jury returned its verdict that took away his freedom. I feel bad I did not report it sooner."
Chris has set up a Facebook group to help sex assault victims called Men Against Sexual Abuse.
He has met with Humberside police and crime commissioner Matthew Grove to address the help given to male victims of sexual assault.
Holbrook targeted young men who had been sent to his training school to be taught how to drive forklift trucks by their employers in the construction industry.
He was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting two victims.
Five more men have come forward to the police from across Hull and the East Riding making similar allegations against him.
One man said he was lured to Holbrook's office on the pretext of an offer of employment and when he arrived a sex act occurred.
Other victims say Holbrook would grab them and try to kiss them.
He allegedly targeted two youths when he was a sergeant in the Territorial Army in the 1980s.
Both men say he made suggestive comments towards them and went on to indecently assault them.
Detectives are due to interview Holbrook, of Hartsholme, Kingswood, next week after more victims came forward.
Chris said: "My only regret is that I did not come forward sooner. I want to help other people who have had similar experiences and offer them someone to talk to through my Facebook group."
Holbrook has been ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
