Woman stands by husband who abused daughters: ‘They’re satan’s girls’

Frances Patterson claims her husband, John Joe, is ‘totally innocent’ - despite the fact he has ben found guilty of sexual assault.

The 50-year-old’s two daughters, Emma and Vanessa Witherow, were children from a previous marriage - and they testified to say their step-dad abused them for ten years between 1996 and 2006.

After reporting him to local police, and having him prosecuted for the crimes, Frances said controversially:

‘I gave birth to Satan’s girls, they are not the girls that I brought up, definitely not. There’s no way that anyone who has any bit of me in them would behave like this.’

‘The only reason I’m here is because I know he has done nothing wrong. I am not in denial, I know the man has done nothing wrong. He’s not capable of doing anything,’

The court heard horrific details of the abuse Emma and Vanessa suffered at John Joe’s hands, and he was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for his crimes.

Their mother claims the girls’ father, Paul Witherow, turned them against her and her new husband.