Liz Fogg, 54, from Ashton Under Lyne, is urging victims of sexual assault to speak out after she saw her rapist brother jailed 38 years after carrying out the sickening attacks
A woman who was sexually assaulted by her half-brother when she was a child has bravely waived her right to anonymity after the rapist was jailed 38 years after the abuse – she says it is “never too late” to seek justice.
Liz Fogg, 54, from Ashton Under Lyne, was a mere five years old when her brother Peter Fogg, now 65, began showing her pornography. By age seven, he had raped her for the first time, leaving her “too terrified” to speak out.
He bullied her with constant threats and made her “too scared to go against him”. The twisted half-brother continued the abuse, and Liz struggled to speak out. But after finding the courage, she eventually reported the crime to the police in 2018, when her current partner, Jean Callan, encouraged her to seek help.
Peter Fogg was found guilty following a trial at Nightingale Court, Lowry Centre, Salford, of three counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, six counts of indecent assault and seven counts of gross indecency with a child. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison at Minshull Crown Court.
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The former NHS support worker says she spent “decades” punishing herself over what had happened. She said: “It’s been a long process to get here – mentally and physically. I spent decades blaming myself but it’s not my fault. But I finally feel validated and believed.”
As a child, Liz’s half-brother, Peter Fogg—who is 10-and-a-half years older than her—lived with their auntie in Denton, Manchester. Liz said she would visit her auntie every three weeks during her childhood and initially had “fond” memories with her brother.
She said: “I would spend time with Peter, and we would play Top Trumps and he taught me chess. I always looked forward to going there. I’m not sure why he didn’t live with us. I think it was closer to his secondary school, but I’m unsure.
“My family home had its problems, and being there was my safe space. I think he knew that and took that away from me.”
Around 1975, when Liz was about five years old, she was visiting her auntie’s house and spending time in Fogg’s room. Fogg showed Liz a pornographic magazine and the abuse began.
She said: “I remember everything. He showed me the graphic images and said it’s what people do when they love each other. He asked me if wanted to do it. I remember saying, ‘Well yes, if that’s how you love your brother’.
“He was my big brother and I idolised him. I was too young to understand what it meant. I remember he tried to rape me and it really hurt, and I started crying. He stopped what he was doing, and we went back to playing Top Trumps like nothing happened.”
A few years later, when Liz was around seven years old, Fogg “forced” himself on her again – raping her for the first time. The abuse continued for years, and Liz started to “dread” the weekend visiting him.
When she was aged nine, she said Fogg moved back into her family home when her auntie passed away. She said: “It was horrible – I couldn’t escape him. He used psychological tactics. Threatening to get me in trouble if I didn’t do what he wanted. It didn’t feel nice or right. But I was too scared to go against him.”
In 1982, when Liz was around 13, she “stood up” to Fogg. From that moment on, the physical abuse stopped, but Liz struggled to come to terms with what she had been through as she dealt with the “ongoing” trauma.
Around the age of 14, she became “self-destructive” – turning to drugs and drink to cope with the trauma. She eventually left home at the age of 16 and tried to put it all behind her. Liz said: “I was constantly moving around. I was trying to runaway – escape myself and the memory of him. I wanted to go to the police for years, but I pushed it all down inside.”
Liz met her partner Jean and eventually confessed what she had been through. With her partner’s support, Liz called 111 and went to Ashton Police Station in 2018 to report Fogg, 35 years later.
“I told my partner, and she was horrified,” Liz said. “It was the first time I felt really heard. She was right beside me, and asked, ‘What shall we do about this?’. I felt ready to report him.”
Peter Fogg, now 65, of Denton, Manchester, was arrested and pleaded not guilty to all charges – three counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, six counts of indecent assault and seven counts of gross indecency with a child. The case went to trial in January 2021, and he was found guilty on all charges.
He was sentenced in February 2021 at Manchester Minshull Crown Court to 22 years in prison. Liz said: “I went to court, and gave evidence behind a screen. It was horrendous. I had to recount everything I had gone through to strangers – it felt like airing my dirty laundry in public.
“I didn’t really care about him being found guilty, I just wanted him to experience the fear. But as it went on, I wanted him to go to prison.
“I honestly thought he would be getting the bus home. I was so shocked by the sentencing.
“The judge ripped him a new one. Leading up to it, I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing by taking this all to court.
“But the outcome made me feel validated – like it was worth it.”
Liz is hoping by sharing her story – nearly 40 years later – that other people will find the courage to speak out and seek justice on historical cases. She said: “I spent decades blaming myself and it’s not my fault. I’ve undergone counselling mentally I’m doing much better thanks to holistic therapy and medication.
“I’ve got amazing support from Jean and my family. I am really hoping to write a book about my experience and hopefully help others with my story. If one person can find the strength to get justice from my story, then I’ll be happy.
If you are a victim of sexual assault, you can contact the Rape Crisis support line which is available 24/7. They can be called on 0808 500 222. For more information visit the website here.
