Rape survivor who inspired BBC doctor after helping coach working in prison dies by suicide as Sky Sports star pays tribute

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A courageous rape survivor who inspired a BBC documentary after helping her conviction of her pedophile coach has died tragically.

Former Sky Sports presenter Charlie Webster paid tribute to her “brave and strong” friend Katie, who was found dead at her home in Australia on Sunday.

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Katie, who went to the same running club as Charlie Webster, died by suicideCredit: GoFundMe

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Presenter Charlie Webster paid tribute to her ‘brave and strong’ boyfriend

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Charlie Webster was abused by coach Paul North Credit: The Times

The presenter said: “I am so sad, hurt and anguished to say that Katie has sadly passed away.

“Katie is my friend, she was part of my running group that made my BBC documentary No Place to Run: Our Coach Offended About It.” Katie committed suicide. “

Charlie, 40, explained how she and Katie met at a running club in Sheffield when they were kids – and quickly became good friends.

But in 2021, Charlie Brave has produced a powerful BBC documentary about how the club’s respected coach – Paul North – groomed her and subjected her to a horrific sexual assault.

It revealed that Katie had also been abused by North – and she bravely confronted him face to face in court to testify against him and put him behind bars.

“For Katie, the pain was so intense, her mental health deteriorating and devastatingly taking her life,” Charlie said on the GoFundMe page for bringing Katie’s body back to the UK.

Charlie praised her friend as “incredibly brave, strong and courageous to stand in court and testify against him”.

“Katie has saved so many other children from being sexually assaulted by this abominable rapist,” she said.

“We know there were girls who were abused by us, but Katie made sure none of them were after us.”

Charlie said Katie tried to start a new life in Australia – and “fought every step of the way”.

“The thing about the trauma of sexual assault just doesn’t go away,” she wrote.

“What happened to Katie made her feel worthless and as if she wasn’t enough, and it affected her mental health, as is common for all survivors, myself included.

Her family has been trying to convince Katie to move back to the UK lately.

Charlie said the player’s family is “completely distraught and just wants to bring her back to put her at ease”.

She said Katie’s grieving mother, Sue, was told by the police that her daughter’s body had been found after she committed suicide.

“Katie was a daughter, sister, aunt and friend – with a gentle sense of humor, a firm nature and a twinkle in her eye,” she said.

Charlie Webster was interviewed by The Sun in 2021 about the abuse she faced.

She said North arranged “private training sessions” before “massaging” her breasts and groin and penetrating them with his fingers.

It was only when he was imprisoned for 10 years, when Charlie was 19, that she realized she wasn’t his only victim.

In the course of the documentary, she discovers that her best friends at the club have also been abused – one of them being raped multiple times.

Charlie was silent about the abuse for 20 years and says she was ashamed to speak out, blaming herself.

But after campaigning for victims of abuse with the charity Women’s Relief, and encouraging victims to speak out about their experiences, she decided to reveal her trauma to help others.

North was brought into the book in 2002, after she told a 15-year-old victim he had been stripped and assaulted by her father, who reported him to the police.

He was imprisoned for 10 years, and has since been released.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please contact Samaritans toll free at 116123.

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Broadcaster Charlie Webster paid tribute to her ‘brave’ friend Credit: The Sun

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