'My grandpa abused me while sat on his knee watching Coronation Street as a child', says Doncaster woman
She is speaking out after "reclaiming" her life following years of suffering
A young Doncaster woman has told how her grandpa sexually abused her from the age of seven while she was sat on his knee watching Coronation Street - and her family didn't suspect a thing.
Megan O'Brien, aged 26, was sexually touched, groped, and assaulted by her step-grandad Paul Mundy, 71.
As a child, Mundy groomed her to think his actions were "normal" and she would later begin receiving money from him - which he used as bribes to ensure she kept his vile actions secret, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
The abuse started when he would get her to sit on his knee whilst watching the Manchester-based soap.
The abuse continued a minimum of twice a week, becoming progressively worse until she was around aged 15, in 2015, when she began dating and realised his actions were wrong, a court heard.
Megan only reported it to South Yorkshire Police six years later, aged 20, in 2020.
Mundy, of Market Place, Bawtry, Doncaster, was jailed for 31 years earlier this year after he was been found guilty of 24 counts of rape and sexual assault against four women.
This included seven counts of sexual assault against Megan.
Megan, who works in compliance, is speaking out to raise awareness for victims of sexual assault after "reclaiming" her life after years of suffering.
Megan said: "I still struggle if Coronation Street in on TV, it sends me straight back to when I was sat on his knee.
"He was so confident and calm during the abuse as he knew he could get away with it.
"The fact he brazenly did it with family around showed how sick he was.
"I was scared of him before, but when I saw him in court I realised he was just a fragile old man.
"I am disgusted by him, and left feeling repulsive whenever I think about him.
"He dictated my life for over a decade, and I am glad it is no more."
Megan said she has "no reason to fear" Mundy - who was her grandma's partner since before she was born - describing him as a "approachable" and "friendly".
But she said even before the abuse started she always had a "close relationship" with him to the point where she said he saw her as his "golden child".
The abuse Megan faced began in 2007 while Mundy lived at her house - alongside her mum and siblings - with the first horrid incident happening when she was sent home from school after banging her head.
It then spiralled with Megan claiming he would abuse her a minimum of "twice a week".
Though it was most frequent when she would sit on his knee while watching Coronation Street with her family.
She said: "My grandpa had his own armchair which was placed side on but tilted to face away from the settee where my family would sit in the living room.”
Megan said there was never any communication when he was performing his acts, revealing how they would both just "stay silent".
She said: "I didn't say anything to anyone as being at such a young age I didn't know what he was doing was wrong.
"Also Mundy and my grandma were all the family my siblings and I had and I didn't want to ruin that.
"It became as normal as when someone saw their grandma and would give them a hug, I would see my grandpa, and he would abuse me."
Mundy moved out of Megan's house aged eight but it was still within walking distance.
She said he would still "drop in" most weekends while on the way to the pharmacy or shops.
The abuse continued when at aged 11 in 2011, when Mundy began giving her money after he committed his vile actions, according to Megan.
She said: "If I knew my mum was out and he was coming around, I would lie in the living room on the settee as if I was asleep watching TV.
"I couldn't deal with facing him, I would enter into fight or flight.
"Then before he would go he would leave the money on the coffee table and leave a £20 note or give it to me on his way out."
Megan said the abuse left her a "shell of her former self" and she began "lashing out at teachers during school time".
She said he waived her legal right to anonymity to let victims know they are "not alone" and you can still "live a normal life after abuse".
The abuse stopped by the time she was 15.
Megan went to university in Leicester and during her second year in September 2020 she sent her mum, Julie Wright, 57, a text detailing what happened to her.
The then student reported him to South Yorkshire Police the same month.
Julie said she was "devastated and heartbroken" to find out what her step-dad had done to her daughter.
She said she "advised" Megan to "report it to the police" and that she would "support her decision 100 per cent".
Three other ladies then also went to the police afterwards claiming Mundy had abused them too.
The CPS originally said there wasn't enough evidence to charge Mundy on two occasions, according to Megan.
But following an appeal by all the women involved they agreed to take him to court.
Mundy was found guilty unanimously by a jury following a three-week and four day trail between March 16 and April 10 this year.
He was sentenced to 31 years on Friday, May 15.
He has also been put on the sex offenders register and the barred list which prevents him from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Megan said: "For him to initially deny the charges was a horrific feeling.
"But for then to be believed by 12 strangers was such a relief.
"It has been the longest most drawn-out process of my life, but I am very pleased with the outcome."
Megan is now in a relationship and she says she is "healing, and learning that not everybody" acts the same way her step-grandad did.
Detective Constable Jamie Bennett, who dealt with the case, said: "I would like to first and foremost commend all four victims for their courage during the course of this lengthy investigation.
"The road to justice has been complex and even in the face of a trial, all four victims continued to show immense bravery resulting in two dozen convictions and a significant prison sentence for Mundy.
"Mundy's crimes were non-recent and I really want to stress that it does not matter when offences took place. If you have been a victim of sexual abuse in the past, please report it to us.”