Hatcher reveals abuse during childhood

Teri Hatcher has revealed she was sexually abused by her uncle during her childhood.

The Desperate Housewives star told Vanity Fair magazine about the incidents, saying she had even contemplated killing herself at times.

She said she had only revealed the incidents after hearing that a 14-year-old girl embroiled in an abuse case against her uncle had committed suicide. Her uncle was recently jailed for 14 years after pleading guilty to four counts of abuse.

She said: "He pleaded guilty, and even though it wasn't to my crime, it was because of my crime, and that made me feel validated. These are haunting things that I've remembered all my life. Somehow it might be easier to accept that you're crazy and you made it all up than to admit that it happened, and how awful it was."

Deputy district attorney for Santa Clara County Chuck Gillingham said: "Without Teri, this case would have been dismissed."