Love affair with guitar teacher left 14-year-old girl with lasting damage
Stacey Fernandes reflects on the affair
FOR a 14-year-old girl it was love, but 16 years on Stacey Fernandes is finally coming to terms with a relationship which left lasting damage.
Stacey (now 30) has chosen to waive her right to anonymity and share her story in a bid for closure after her former guitar teacher Nicholas Watson was jailed for 30 months for two counts of indecent assault on Tuesday.
Watson (46), of Rowan Avenue, Spalding, was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life for the charges, which date back to 1996 and 1997.
Stacey finally reported her two-year relationship to the police 14 years later in 2010 after getting her life back on track.
Her story starts in 1996, when Watson, a former school friend of her stepfather, was asked to give Stacey guitar lessons to help boost her confidence. It resulted in a secret two-year sexual relationship.
She said: “I had always viewed it as a relationship despite the age gap. It was only on talking through everything with a counsellor when I had post-natal depression that it made me realise it was something else.
“At that point I disclosed everything to my family in detail. They only had suspicions before then.”
Stacey told how her family first became suspicious after following her from the school gates to Watson’s car.
The lessons were initially called off but started up again when Watson assured the family that his mother would act as a chaperone.
Stacey explained: “I was in love. It was going to be a lifelong relationship.”
Afterwards, she described herself as “a mess” who “drank herself into oblivion” until she met her husband, Karl.
“At school I was very academic because it was the only place I could be myself,” she said. “I excelled. I was good at putting on an act but I was drinking, self-harming and was bulimic for about two years.”
Stacey, who lives in Moulton, now has two young children and has set her sights on training for a role in the medical profession.
She admits coming forward to report her relationship was hard, but she has praised the “amazing and supportive” police officers who dealt with her case over the last 19 months.
She said: “It’s worth going through the pain and turmoil. At the end of the day, I have got closure from it and I have a result. I know that’s not the case for everyone but I try to take positives from a situation.
“The support is there from the police and counselling services. It’s not always easy but it’s there.”
Stacey was in court to hear Watson be sentenced and said it was a shock.
“When I went to the police it was never for revenge or to achieve this,” she said. “It was to be believed – to have it out there and for him to know what he had done and the damage that he caused. “I do not feel good about his position but then it was taken out of my hands. It was not for me to judge what he deserved.”
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Comments
There are 26 comments to this article
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bungle
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 11:21 PMDo you know that when you appeal a sentence it can go up too, Nick needs to never forget, he brought it on himself and his loved ones, more respect for his mother when she was chaperone would have saved him before it was too late.
dimebag
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 08:18 PMDo you know what an appeal means ? Nick won,t be appealing against the conviction he has admitted he has done wrong, he will be appealing his sentence. I don,t think he will forget what has happened same as Stacey this is my last post as it,s tit for tat.
bungle
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 06:44 PMYou never stopped saying there were 2 sides to every story when an adult has sex with a child the adult is wrong always every time 1 side and 1 side only, if you think thats wrong say so lets hear the other side, pin your name to it. Have you had this kind of trauma, if not what right do you have to say what is good therapy and as for rubbish your the one writing in this forum and entitled to label yourself thus. littlebird is Stacey what a surprise we all knew that. if you are not saying nick was right why do you keep threatening appeals what is your point if thiwss your daughter would you be so glib in your comments
dimebag
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 05:12 PMI was wondering how long it would take Littlebird to 'reveal her true identity'!! I'm interested to know why you're spending so much time reading this rubbish. PLUS i never said what Nick did was ok.
bungle
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 08:28 PMI accept that there is more then one side to a story, but you tell me, same as was said to alan1077, tell me the circumstance, hyperthetically, that a man in his 30's can have sex with a minor and it not be his fault, cause unless he is mentally incapable of consent, I can't think of one, a minor cannot give consent legally or emotionally. I think you confuse reasons for doing things and having an excuse for doing something. Nick Watson is guilty of this crime as HE pleaded guilty, he apologised through his solicitor, let that stand, let him serve his sentence and it be over.
littlebird
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 08:11 PMhey, you know what bring it on,lets hear what it is that you reckon you know about me!lets have all the details shall we!(whatever it is your talking about!that the I havnt apparently already told the police!)At the end of the day all the juicy details have been pored over by a court room full of people and however other many people have been involved in this case!So why not have a pick over of the bones and see what you can find!Well let me tell you I am an honest, decent,kind, loving,caring person and I can stand by everything Ive said in court as it is the TRUTH!!!Its not just one version of the story it is the truth yes you can have different prespective and point of view about what happened thats your perogative.But there are two people who know what really happened throughout them years me and the Nick.He pleaded guilty because what he did was wrong.I am not happy that he is in prison but thats was the judges desicion so guess we'll both have to live with it.I am by no means perfect who is but I can assure you I have nothing to hide so as I said lets here it.
dimebag
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 11:12 AMIn response to Bungle. I take on and accept all you say. All i was trying to do was to point out their ARE two sides to every story. And i seem to be the only person looking at it from another angle. I won't accept that there can be only one side to a story - which seems to be infered from the majority of readers. As i say, i do know more details and it would be interesting to see any comments if this information came to light.
bungle
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:41 PMI admit I am partisan to Stacey's case, and I have seen the terrible pain this has caused and it breaks my heart, but I try to be objective, I think its a fair sentence, and I hope Nick gets gelp in prison and the chance to get new skills. Nick certainly did break the law and act irresponsibly, the article gives you some of the answers. what Stacey has got out of this? “It was to be believed – to have it out there and for him to know what he had done and the damage that he caused“ Why the 14 year delay? "on talking through everything with a counsellor when I had post-natal depression that it made me realise it was something else" Closure - what does that really mean? No such thing, but there is a lessening of pain visible with each step through the process and it will keep diminishing but at times, maybe for the rest of her life, it will crop up. Nick may be caring about his mother but was clearly not about Stacey I am sure the Judge took all of the the reports on Nick in but what should the sentence have been 2 X indecent assault of a minor no jail because of his mother, I think not. He had time before his sentence to arrange things for his mother. I have re-read all the comments and both articles and cannot find these labels of some kind of predator or monster, maybe you should remember you don't jnow the whole story but only how it looks from your side.
dimebag
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:02 AMCan i add some controversial comments? I am going to be honest and admit to being a friend of Nick's for the last 14 years. No one can deny that Nick didn't break the law or act irresponsibly can they? But i would be interested to know what Stacey has got out of this? Closure - what does that really mean? Why the 14 year delay? I beleive there may be an appeal and so am unable to comment too much, but previous comments have questioned the 'don't know the full story' comment. Well, they clearly don't. The Nick i know is caring and considerate and dotes on his elderly mother - who is now having to fend for herself. Can we please not label Nick as some kind of predator or monster untill such a time we hear the full story.
peekachoo
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 10:30 AMJust reading all the comments. Alan1077, you are a sad person. This young woman may have thought she was in love with this man, as at the age of 14 your hormones are all over the place. She probably looked up to him as a bit of a hero, teaching her guitar. But regardless of this he was 16 years older than her and should have known better. He should have said No, he was the responsible one.
diveangel
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 08:52 AMClearly some get their kicks out of trying to be being 'controversial' and spiteful - and opinion to be ignored methinks
littlebird
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 07:06 PMplus if this was to be true Alan 1077,surely the concern should be, why are there so many men willing and wanting to take up with young girls?And the facts still would remain the same,the adult being the responsible one and the child not mature enough to understand the full implications of thiern actions hence why an under 16 is not able to consent,.
littlebird
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:09 PMIm sure the police had all the inormation required in this case and dealt with it appropriately, and the judges verdict was based upon facts and nothing else.As Nick Watson admitted these particular charges then surely the guilt lays at his door and not that of a 'vunerable' 14 year old girl.So again I ask along with others who have commented what is your point Alan1077?
bingoooo
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 03:57 PMNever right for a grown man to have a sexual relationship with a child! So Alan, what is your actual point?? Please share or kindly shut up!!
bungle
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 03:50 PMSo it appears that Alan1077 considers there is an acceptable reason for an adult to have a sexual relationship with a child. What a disturbing point of view you have, I pity you.
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