A CHILD rape victim who helped jail two paedophile brothers has revealed he first told cops about the monsters 15 YEARS AGO.

But the investigation into his complaint was BUNGLED-allowing Kevin and Wayne Dewick to CARRY ON attacking youngsters in their bedsit lair.

"My life was ruined by what they did to me," said Simon Richards who also revealed Sarah's Law-now being piloted around Britain-would have SAVED him from five years of hell.

Because evil Kevin had ALREADY been convicted for child abuse when he began attacking him.

"If my mum and the parents of other children who used to visit him had known about his convictions, our lives would be very different," said Simon.

As the vile brothers began their sentences, Simon, now 28, told how he fell into their clutches when he was seven. Wayne was his uncle and Kevin had been dating a pal of his single mum.

"I started going to play with other kids at Kevin's bedsit. It was like an Aladdin's Cave -full of toys and three TVs with computer games," said Simon.

"My mum was happy for me to go." The brothers were seen as harmless do-gooders who helped kids from hard-up families. But Kevin was hiding a DARK SECRET-he had been given probation for abusing two young girls in 1985. Soon he began assaulting Simon, describing the attacks as "games". Wayne came round and joined in too.

Then the attacks by Kevin intensified. "I was scared and confused and would cry myself to sleep afterwards," said Simon. "Kevin said it was our special secret that if anyone ever found out, my mum would disown me."

At 13 he plucked up the courage to tell police. But a WPC confronted him about his allegations IN FRONT OF the brothers-petrifying him. "I told her I'd lied and ran out of the room-I was so frightened," he said.

The truth only came out 15 years later when Leicester police began investigating a pervert pal of the Dewicks- swimming coach Roy Clarke. Simon had also been abused by him-and he later told cops everything.

Last week Kevin, 48, got 18 years and his brother Wayne, 51, was jailed for 11 for their 26-year reign of terror over 13 young victims.

Simon said: "I never knew there were so many. It was terrifying giving evidence. But I feel now that I have nothing to hide any more.

"It's vital parents have access to information to protect children-which is why Sarah's Law is so important.

"Because no one can begin to imagine what it is like to lose your childhood as a victim of sexual abuse."

Sarah's Law now!

THE devastated mum of two Dewick victims last night appealed for Sarah's Law to go nationwide IMMEDIATELY to save children from fiends like the evil brothers.

In fury, she declared: "If I'd known of Kevin Dewick's previous conviction I wouldn't have let him anywhere near my kids and they'd have been safe."

Sarah's Law-which gives worried parents the background on friends or neighbours with access to their children-is on trial in just four areas. But the 42-year-old mum pleaded for it to be rolled out everywhere.

"Please don't let anyone else go through what we have," she said. "Dozens of children's lives are ruined.

"Two victims in their 20s apologised to me for not speaking out earlier. But it's not down to victims to protect society, it's down to the police and the government. The law HAS to change."