These are some of the experiences of child sexual abuse shared with the Truth Project by victims and survivors. All names and identifying details have been changed.
Download a PDF sample of accountsread full account of Bens experienceBen says ‘Looking at the map of my abuse, everybody knew … nobody stopped it.’
As a young boy, Ben loved his local church and joined the choir, often performing at concerts.
He thought the choirmaster, Robin, seemed like a ‘nice, modern chap’ and was pleased when Robin invited him to his home to see a train set.
read full account of Cyrahs experienceCyrah says ‘The people I thought were there to protect me didn’t believe a word I was saying’
After Cyrah was assaulted and raped by her father, she was placed in the care system.
There, she was sexually abused and exploited by several more men.
read full account of Leroys experienceA childhood in institutional care exposed Leroy to repeated sexual and physical abuse
Leroy was born in the 1950s. When he was a baby, he was removed from his mother’s care and placed in a children’s home.
At the age of eight, he was placed in a psychiatric institution where a brutal regime prevailed. No support or help was provided by staff – only ridicule, humiliation and abuse.
read full account of Johnnies experienceJohnnie thinks it would be easier for him to report being sexually abused in ‘today’s world’
Johnnie was adopted in the 1940s by a childless couple.
It is not clear what, if any, checks were made on the adoptive parents, but the father sexually abused Johnnie for several years.
read full account of Tonyas experienceTonya says that health and education staff and the police ignored signs that she was being sexually abused
When Tonya ran away, the police told her parents she had said she was frightened of them. This made her feel she could never tell an adult anything again.
Tonya was born in the 1960s. Her mother became pregnant after her family threw her out. With no support from Tonya’s father, she was unable to cope and she put Tonya into care.
read full account of Silass experienceSilas says ‘People don’t realise how many men are in jail because of what happened to them in care’
Silas suffered abuse throughout his childhood, at home and in the care system.
When he was about 12 years old, he was referred to a psychiatric hospital where he was at the mercy of a sadistic doctor who drugged and sexually abused him.
read full account of Cassys experienceCassy feels the effects of abuse will never leave her but will follow her wherever she goes
Cassy endured sexual abuse and sadistic bullying by other pupils at her private boarding school.
She is still extremely traumatised by the terrible experiences she had as a young girl.
read full account of Kallums experienceKallum says ‘It’s too late for me, but we’ve got to stop this stuff’
Kallum was sexually abused by an older worker when he was an apprentice.
He has tried to access therapy but there is a long waiting list and he would like to see more support available for victims and survivors.
read full account of Olivias experienceOlivia thought ‘It was normal for girls to do anything to please their partner, even if they hated it’
Olivia felt ignored by her parents, and this made her vulnerable to sexual abuse by a teenage boy.
Because the abuser was only two years older than her, Olivia feels the police did not see the abuse as ‘too problematic’.
read full account of Richies experienceRichie says victims and survivors may have conflicting feelings about the people who abused them
Richie was bullied at school and his mother intervened on his behalf.
A charismatic teacher exploited his vulnerability and sexually abused him for several years.
read full account of Jesses experienceJesse behaved badly when he was a child, but no one tried to find out why
Jesse had a learning difficulty, but when he was a young child, his behaviour was seen as disruptive and challenging.
He was sent to different schools for children with physical and emotional needs and was sexually abused by a male member of staff and another pupil.
read full account of Shannons experienceShannon is campaigning for court proceedings to be improved for people with disabilities
Shannon lives with a medical condition that affects her movement.
A man who was entrusted to help care for her sexually abused her.