Dennis’s care records contained ‘half-truths and lies’ and he calls for improved reporting systems
All names and identifying details have been changed.
Participants have given us permission to share their experiences.
The sexual abuse inflicted on Dennis occurred some years ago, and he says that the records of his time in care are contradictory and inaccurate.
His recollection is that at a very young age he was deserted by his mother and was then placed in several children’s homes, an assessment centre, with a foster family and, for a brief period, in the care of a relative.
There was also a period when he was placed back with his mother but he was removed again at her request. Dennis says that life with his mother ‘wasn’t good’ and for the most part his time in care was better because he had other children to play with.
However, during his stay in an assessment centre the manager sexually abused him on several occasions. He remembers being orally raped and has a vague memory of being bent over the bath. ‘Then it’s blank,’ he says, ‘I suppose, to cope with this I just blanked out what was happening.’ He believes he spent about a year in the assessment centre before being fostered by a family and spending a brief time with a relative.
After this, he was moved to another children’s home in his teenage years. Here, he was sexually abused following a process of grooming by a female member of staff at the home, Sarah.
The sexual abuse continued over a number of years. His records say that he moved out of the home and in with a family member but in fact, he says, he moved into Sarah’s flat and had a relationship with her.
A few years after his contact with Sarah ended, Dennis saw some of his records which he says contained ‘half-truths and lies’. At this point he decided to report the sexual abuse by Sarah.
An investigation followed, and she was charged with indecent assault under section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956. At the trial, it was found that Sarah had not committed the offences when Dennis was under 16 years old and the verdict was not guilty.
Dennis has been told that because the sexual abuse was not recent, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (which changes the way in which lack of consent may be proved) cannot be applied.
He contended throughout the trial that his mental state at the time should have been considered because he should have been seen as unable to give consent to the sexual relationship.
Dennis would like victims and survivors to be given key workers to help them through the process of reporting their sexual abuse. He would also like there to be more clearly identified ways to report abuse in confidence and privacy.