A distraught victim of Ealing paedophile Robin Wheatley has revealed how the sick ex-Scout leader made her fear for her life before abusing her.

Wheatley was due to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on January 22 after he was convicted of seven counts of gross indecency with a child and two counts of indecent assault on November 13 2015.

But the 73-year-old, of Greenford, Ealing, died at the Clayponds Hospital, Ealing, on December 16 2015 of serious vascular problems.

Judge John Denniss was satisfied the ex-London Ambulance Service employee, of Hicks Avenue, was dead and the sentencing was cancelled.

Now one of his victims, who has retained her right to anonymity, has spoken of how Wheatley subjected her, her brother, step brother and step sister to abuse.

The woman, now in her late 30s, told getwestlondon: "He used to come to my house. He was my step dad's friend. He used to take us out for the day and at first he seemed okay.

"He would take us into the woods and he used to give us sweets and then eventually alcohol and cigarettes when I was eight, and that's was when he started telling us about a 'game of bears'.

"Then he would take us to his caravan and we would usually have to get naked.

"He threatened if we ever told we'd be hanged. He didn't need to make any other threats. I didn't say anything to anyone. I didn't know if anything would happen to me or my brother.

"He used to show us where 'the children used to hang'. I think he made it up now but I did not think he made it up then - we thought he was being serious."

Nightmares

According to the victim, who used to live in Hayes but has now moved away, the abuse began more than 28 years ago but she was so frightened for her life that she didn't report it until 2014.

She reported the abuse at Uxbridge police station and it was at this point that his other victims came forward with evidence as well.

She said she also heard from a fellow victim how he abused more than 30 boys during his position as a scout leader in Ealing.

But she said she was not made to feel comfortable reporting the abuse and said whenever she raised it with her step dad it was ignored.

She added: "It was a long time and it has been awful. I have had nightmares ever since.

"Ever since I have had my own kids I had nightmares about them being taken away and lost in the woods - I have been extremely protective.

"I was really upset that he died before he went to prison. I was crying for the whole day and I could not get out of bed - it just felt like it didn't matter.

"I felt like it was my fault I didn't go to the police sooner. I was scared of what people would think if I reported it because I had been abused.

"I think that people need to know that it is never too late to go to the police - do not leave it."