A VICTIM who came to face to face with the paedophile who molested him today said defiantly: "You can't hurt me anymore".The 22-year-old man, who lives in south-west Ipswich, confronted his "nightmare come true" when he saw freed pervert Anthony Lowery.

A VICTIM who came to face to face with the paedophile who molested him today said defiantly: "You can't hurt me anymore".

The 22-year-old man, who lives in south-west Ipswich, confronted his "nightmare come true" when he saw freed pervert Anthony Lowery.

It was a chance encounter on the outskirts of the town, but it was first time he had set on eyes on his tormentor in more than five years.

Lowery, 63, was recently released from prison after serving a sentence for indecently assaulting the young boy and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

The victim, who now has a full-time job and a girlfriend of one year and whos identity as a victim of a sexual assault is protected, said: "There are still memories but I'm getting on with my life.

"I'm not going to be hurt by him anymore. I won't let him do it and I'm going to carry on with my life. I just want to move on."

Despite trying to put his ordeal behind him, the former Ipswich schoolboy said seeing Lowery, who is thought to be living locally, had been a very stressful ordeal.

He said: "I froze and didn't know what to do. It's like facing a nightmare come true. I was shaking so much.

"I was angry and upset. I really didn't know how to react. I didn't know whether I'd knock him out but I carried on and left.

"I hadn't seen him since the court case in 1999 and I got out of there as soon as possible. Just by being there, he knew what he'd done."

Since being out, Lowery has been posting flyers proclaiming his innocence and offering a £1,000 reward to people able to help him prove it.

In response, his victim has posted notes of his own in Lowery's former neighbourhood, in Dillwyn Street West.

They remind residents he is back in the area and urge them to be "vigilant and weary of others that have contact with your children".

The victim's mother said: "Lowery's clutching at straws basically. He's convicted, he's served his time and he's not innocent in any way.

"Paedophiles don't think they're wrong. They think it's natural. He really believes he's innocent but he's not."

The victim is hoping other people who have suffered a similar fate will come forward.

He said: "If there's other people out there I want them to come forward. It's hard but I've done it and there's help out there for you."

n What do you think of this victim's story? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or join the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk