A TRAUMATISED Halesowen mum-of-two who was raped by her brother when they were children has hit out after appeal court judges cut his prison sentence.

Louise Palmer, aged 38, was just five when Richard Davenport, then 14, began sexually abusing her in a caravan in the bottom of the garden.

She later told their Jehovah's Witness parents and church elders but was urged not to report it to police to avoid bringing shame on their religion.

Last year Davenport, aged 47, who had moved to a remote area of Argyll in Scotland, was jailed for 14 years after being convicted of rape and sexual assaults at the former family home in Halesowen, over six years.

He only stopped when he feared she might become pregnant.

Davenport was found guilty on all the charges and jailed for a combined total of 36 years, but 14 years consecutively - meaning he would serve seven before being eligible for release.

But he could serve just five years behind bars after an appeal court reduced his sentence to 10 years.

Louise has waived her right to anonymity to condemn the decision and a victim support system which she said failed to let her know about the appeal until late in the process..

She said: “It seems the judges are more supportive of the paedophiles in this country than the ones being abused. How can that be right?

“This makes a mockery of the courage it takes for survivors to speak up.”

Louise, who is building a new life with partner Kevin Tucker, and is studying for a degree in criminology, added: “Survivors of abuse should be given a thought in the appeal process.

“Until this point I had expected the justice system to support the victim and punish the rapist by upholding the original sentence. So to say I feel let down by this decision is an understatement.

“If he had 36 years in total, how can it be justified that five years is a decent amount of time to serve in prison?”

When Louise finally mustered the courage to tell her parents Trevor and Diane and church elders about the abuse she said they did nothing for fear of bringing shame ‘on the name of Jehovah’.

Her mum and dad were at Wolverhampton Crown Court to see Davenport convicted of two charges of raping his sister and three of indecently assaulting her - charges he had denied, forcing Louise to give evidence But they were there for their son and shunned Louise.

“My parents chose my brother over me, even when they knew what he’d done. I can’t forgive them,” said Louise, who is determined to help other victims of abuse by speaking out about her own experiences.