I was raped from age 5 by devil stepbrothers who rigged our house of horrors for abuse – even Primark trips weren’t safe

HEARING the bolts slam shut on the bedroom door, Kiera Taylor braced herself for the most horrific betrayal imaginable.

The locks had been installed by her , Jordan Wright and Kert Birtwistle, so their unsuspecting parents would never disturb their secret .

From the tender age of five, Keira was repeatedly raped by the evil pair, who took turns to abuse her and even attacked her on innocent outings including a trip to Primark.

After her mum got into a new relationship, the now 19-year-old, from Preston, , was forced to move into the boys' family home, which she described as a “house of horrors”.

The brothers meticulously planned their attacks, alternating each day to terrorise Kiera in unimaginable ways around the property and back garden, as well as public changing rooms and toilets.

In October last year, Wright, 30, was to 16 years and two months whilst Birtwistle, 28, was sentenced to 12 years for their campaign of abuse again Kiera and multiple children.

Kiera’s now bravely waived her anonymity in a bid to raise awareness for historic abuse survivors.

The courageous young woman, who is now studying dance at , says: “Those monsters made me feel powerless, like a piece of meat.

“They used to laugh as they tortured me, but who's laughing now? They deserve to rot and die in their cells.

“If I can help just one girl feel less alone and ashamed, I’ve done my duty. To any survivors out there, it’s okay to finally get it off your chest. You’re not alone.”;

Originally, Kiera lived alone with her mum in Preston. They were close with Wright and Birtwistle’s over the years.

She says: “Kert and Jordan’s mum was good friends with my mum. They’d met at youth club as teens and had been friends since.

“She had six children and I was very close with her daughter, going on play dates a lot.”;

In 2010, when Kiera was five, she went with Birtwistle, then aged 15, Wright, then 16, and their family to their sister’s birthday party at Tower.

Cruel campaign begins

At the party, Kiera asked to go to the toilet, and one of the brothers, Wright, offered to direct her.

Kiera says: “The toilet was at the top of Blackpool Tower, whilst the family looked out the view and enjoyed the party.

“Jordan closed the toilet door, and began stroking my hair. Suddenly he pinned me on the floor, and raped me. I was crying.

“I realised his other brother, Kert, was guarding the door, making sure no one would come in.

“I looked at Kert to help me, but he stared at me and did nothing. They’d planned it.

“After the party, I didn’t tell Mum. I was too afraid. They were our trusted family friends, but I hoped to never see them again.”;

But that same month, Kiera discovered her mum had begun a relationship with Wright and Birtwistle’s mother.

To her horror, she was forced to move into their home with her mum, and they became her step-brothers.

Kiera says: “I’d hoped to never see Kert or Jordan again. But now, I was trapped.

“Initially I tried avoiding them, sticking by Mum’s side or playing with the rest of the kids.

“But that first week, whilst the family were in the garden, Kert came into my bedroom.

“I thought he was going to apologise about what Jordan did at Blackpool Tower.

Kert took me to Primark in town to buy me a dress – but in the changing rooms, he raped me

Kiera

“Instead, he pushed me down onto the bed, and raped me too.

“I cried out so loud but it was a large three-storey house. No one heard. He told me if I told anyone he’d kill me.

“I was terrified and knew it wasn’t an empty threat.”;

After that, Kiera’s life became a living hell. The twisted brothers would take turns visiting her room to .

To the family, they looked like caring big brothers, but no one knew what was happening behind closed doors.

Death threats

Kiera says: “Although I was still only five, I knew it wasn’t normal. Jordan and Kert were bigger, and older than me.

“They began taking me on ‘special’ days out too. One day, Kert took me to in town to buy me a dress.

“But in the changing rooms, he raped me. Another time, Jordan took me as well, replicating the same day out.

“In the changing rooms, he attacked me like Kert did. I soon questioned whether they were planning it together at home.

“Another day, I was raped in the toilet by Kert. And as the year went on, I was subjected to so much abuse, it became a blur.”;

Kiera claims both brothers would threaten to harm her, or her mum. She began wetting the bed and never felt safe around the house.

Kiera says: “I was living in a house of horrors. Kert had locks and bolts installed on his bedroom door.

“So he’d lock me in in the middle of the day. Each time I heard the lock turn, I thought he was going to murder me.

“Kert and Jordan took turns to break the lock in the bathroom during my bath times, with a special coin they shared.

“At night, they took turns to watch me sleep too.

“As I’d hear them breathing, I’d squeeze my eyes shut, pretending to be asleep.

“The anxiety and fear of not knowing if they were about to rape me was worse than rape itself.

“Whenever I’d wet the bed, Mum would worry. She’d quiz me asking me if I was having nightmares and I’d make excuses.

“She’d let it go as bed-wetting was normal at that age.”;

As I tried to escape, they both threw me onto the bed. Jordan raped me from the front and Kert raped me from behind

Kiera

In 2012, after Kiera turned 7, she’d been living in the family home for over a year when not one, but both brothers lured her into their mum’s bedroom to rape her.

Kiera says: “It was the first time they’d acted together. As they tortured me, they both laughed.

“I was even attacked in the garden whilst playing hide and seek once.”;

Sick crimes exposed

In December 2013, Wright was suddenly arrested at the family home. Another child had come forward after being abused.

Kiera says: “Mum quizzed me and I broke down, telling her Jordan had done the same to me.

“Mum was hysterical and ended things with their mum. We moved out the house immediately.

“I was too terrified to tell her about Kert in case he hurt me or her.”;

Years went by, and Kiera grew older, still petrified Birtwistle would kill her. Wright was out on bail, going on to abuse others too.

It wasn’t until 2019, when six other men and women came forward about Wright, that Kiera bravely gave her statement to the aged 14.

Kiera says: “Mum finally had the full story of the horrors I’d faced in that house.

“After nearly a decade of mental torture, I told my story for the first time to the police.

“I learned how the other survivors were all young children when they were raped. I was sickened at how many lives had been ruined.”;

They were older but they were the same evil brothers. They were the devil

Kiera

In September 2024, Kiera faced her stepbrothers at Preston Crown .

After a month-long trial, in October, Wright pleaded guilty to four counts of rape against Kiera, and Birtwistle was found guilty of three counts of rape of a girl under 13.

They were also convicted of another 28 counts of rape and assault of boys and girls under 13.

Wright was sentenced to 16 years and two months whilst Birtwistle was sentenced to 12 years.

Kiera says: “They were older but they were the same evil brothers. They were the devil.

“Jordan especially, as he said that he’d do it all again and that he didn’t want people taking credit for his work.

“Hearing his cruel words, I hoped he’d die in prison. Kert showed remorse, and even cried.

“Inside I knew he was a calculated monster too.

“At the sentencing I finally had justice after so long. But shortly after, I attempted suicide.

“It wasn’t the first time after the trauma I’d suffered.

“Now, I’m concentrating on therapy and getting amazing support from my mum who still feels guilty. I’m trying to move forward with my life.

“I do all sorts of dance and it’s my dream to open a dance school one day for survivors of abuse.

“Speaking up gave me my strength back, and I want other women to know your voice can be your power too.”;

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.