- Ria was six when she woke up and found her father under her duvet covers
- If you need to speak to someone, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818 or visit their website
Ria Vora knew she was growing up in a strict household growing up; made to take on rigorous chores and subject to demanding parents.
However, it wasn’t until she reached adolescence that Ria, now 20, realised she had been molested and raped by her father Bharat Ghohil for several years.
Ria, from Hemel Hempstead, was just six years old when her father began to abuse her, after losing his job and becoming a stay at home father. He preyed on his daughter while his wife, Ria’s mother, was out of the house at work.
For six years until she was 12 years old, Ghohil attacked his daughter so frequently that she came to think it was normal behaviour for a father; but never mentioned the abuse to her mother because he told her it was ‘their secret’.
But when she began to learn about sex education at school, Ria came to the harrowing realisation that her father was sexually abusing her.
Ria Vora from Hemel Hempstead, was six years old when her father began a horrendous six-year campaign of sexual abuse against her. Above: Ria in her younger days when she was being abused
Now, Gohil has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and Ria has bravely waived her anonymity in a bid to raise awareness for sexual abuse in families.
Ria, an entrepreneur for an Asian fashion design company, said: ‘My father was a paedophile who preyed on his young, vulnerable daughter.
‘He should’ve protected me, but instead he harmed me in the worst way imaginable.
Her mother, Kin, 47, ran a successful wedding photography business and a beauty business, while Gohil worked as an office administrator.
They had a shared income until 2008, when Ria’s father was made redundant.
‘Mum told me Dad was going to be home from then on, taking me to school and looking after me,’ Ria said.
‘Suddenly Mum was the breadwinner, working really hard and out at all hours.
‘Whilst Dad ran the home. Like typical Hindu Asian fathers, Dad was very conservative and strict. I had a rigorous chore sheet.
Ria’s father, Bharat Gohil has been sentenced to 20 years in prison
Gohil and his daughter, then 12, when he was still abusing her
Ria (pictured now) said she woke up aged six to find her father under her duvet covers
‘Every day, I had tasks like washing up, sweeping, dishes and homework. He didn’t really let me play outside, or go to the park either.’
But later that year, Ria’s mother went to work one evening to do a wedding shift and so Gohil put his six-year-old daughter to sleep.
‘Hours later I opened my eyes and saw Dad under the covers,’ Ria said.
‘He rubbed his body against mine and touched me all over. I remained quiet and was very confused.
‘After that, it kept happening. I’d wake in the night to find Dad under my covers.’
Gohil went to interviews but never secured a job, remaining a stay-at-home father.
As he preyed on Ria at every chance, she believed the abuse was normal. The following year, in 2009, he raped Ria when she was only seven years old.
‘He was gentle, and made me feel like nothing weird was happening. He told me it was our secret and not to tell Mum,’ she said.
Ria (pink dress in the middle) and her father (far right) in a family photograph
Gohil preyed on Ria at every chance and she believed the abuse was normal growing up
Ria (pictured now) said her father would visit her bedroom after she came back from school
‘I thought there was nothing to tell anyway. In my mind, it was what dads did with their daughters.
‘Years went by and as I got older, Dad continued his visits to my bedroom after school.
‘Once, Mum nearly caught Dad when she came home one day. Dad jumped off me, and got his clothes on just in time.
‘Although Mum didn’t have a clue, hers and Dad’s marriage began to fall apart. They fought constantly over the years, and I hated it at home.’
In 2016, Ria’s parents announced they were getting a divorce. Gohil found a flat minutes away from their family home.
Ria said: ‘I was 12 when they split. It was a huge relief they couldn’t fight anymore.
‘On his moving day, I went with him to Ikea, and we picked rugs and furniture. Back at his flat, he cooked me my favourite curry.
In 2016, Ria’s parents announced they were getting a divorce and she was 12 when they spilt up
Ria’s father was a stay-at home father while her mother went out and worked to support the family
‘That night, he climbed into bed with me. Again he forced himself on me.
‘It was painful and horrible. I felt sick about it.
‘The next day, it dawned on me that I’d spent the last six years thinking everything Dad had done was normal.
‘At school we learned about sex education and I slowly realised as I went into my teen years that I’d been abused.
‘I made a vow to myself, that Dad would never rape me again.’
From then on, Ria refused to visit Gohil. As she got older, she tried to push the abuse to the back of her head.
‘My brain blocked it all out in order to protect itself. But I began struggling mentally,’ she said.
‘I began rebelling against Mum and my school. I drank, and passed out often.
‘Mum worried sick about me, not knowing why I was acting out.
‘My relationships with boys got tough, as I couldn’t bring myself to do things sexually.
‘During those years, Dad moved to a new place in Luton. He tried to make amends, but Mum wanted nothing to do with him, and I kept my distance.
‘On occasions, I let him take me for food or to the cinema.’
In September 2021, aged 17, Ria began psychology and sociology in A-levels, and they got onto the topic of father figures.
She began suffering flashbacks and broke down about her father in confidence to a teacher at school.
When she returned home that evening, she discovered they had informed her mother about the abuse.
Ria said: ‘I felt betrayed by the school for going against my wishes and telling her.
Ria said she learned about sex education at school and realised that she had been abused by her father
Ria said that getting justice has ‘helped her heal’ and urged others to reach out to loved ones or an abuse helpline
Ria said her mother was crying and apologising after she was told about the abuse
‘After a lifetime of denying the abuse, I told Mum. She was crying and apologising in guilt. I felt so numb.
‘Soon the school reported everything to the police. I was terrified. It was my biggest secret which I thought I’d take to the grave.’
In December 2023, Bharat Gohil, 59, of Rodeheath, Luton, was found guilty of four counts of rape of a child under 13 and eight counts of assault of a child under 13 by touching against Ria at St Albans Crown Court.
In May this year, he was imprisoned for 20 years for his catalogue of horrific crimes.
The judge described him as a ‘monster’ who ‘enjoyed the terror he instilled’.
Ria said: ‘As we waited for the trial, Mum wanted Dad to pay for what he’d done. But I felt guilty as he was still my father.
‘Then in court, he didn’t show an ounce of remorse or emotion. It broke me.
‘It was then I realised I had nothing to feel guilty about. He didn’t after all.
‘Although I’d never wanted the truth to come out, I couldn’t believe the weight that was lifted from me.
‘It has taken me years to understand my pain. But I finally have justice. Surprisingly it has since brought me a lot of closure and helped me heal.
‘To any other survivors out there, you don’t have to suffer in silence like I did. You deserve justice too.
‘Please reach out to a loved one or call an abuse helpline. Getting justice has helped me heal.
‘I promise it will set you free.’
If you need to speak to someone, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818 or visit their website