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 Less experienceLes wants to challenge people who are judgemental about abuse victims, but finds it hard to speak out
Because his home life was difficult and deprived, there were many things about being in a children’s home that Les liked.
But this meant he did not tell anyone he was being sexually abused by an older boy, although he thinks the staff knew.
read full account of Nicks experienceNick says ‘I want to contribute my experience to the Truth Project to honour my 12-year-old self’
Nick was groomed, controlled and sexually abused hundreds of times by a teacher at his private school.
Decades later, he is still working to heal himself from the impacts of the abuse.
read full account of Naomis experienceNaomi says that in the church she belonged to, a culture of denial is still facilitating abuse
Naomi grew up in a strict and insular religious community with her parents, and siblings. She describes how she was brought up to fear anyone outside the Jehovah’s Witness church as untrustworthy, and to see all members of the congregation as family.
Children were often cared for by other church members and this mutual trust allowed a man to sexually abuse Naomi for several years.
read full account of Sammy s experienceSammy appreciated that the police kept him informed when they investigated his report of sexual abuse
Many years after Sammy was sexually abused by a teacher, he realised the abuser could still have contact with children.
He was very impressed by the response of the police, and the way they handled the investigation.
read full account of Taniths experienceTanith did all she could to protect her younger sibling from their abusive stepfather
Tanith was sexually abused by her stepfather, who was a member of the armed forces.
She was only a small child, but she still worries that people will judge her if they find out.
read full account of Stevens experiencePhysical and sexual abuse was ‘common knowledge’ at the Catholic school Steven attended
Steven grew up in a Catholic family in the 1960s. Following prompting by the local priest and family members, he was sent to board at a local Catholic school.
It seems to have been widely known that several teachers abused pupils, and many parents removed their children from the school.
read full account of Melissas experienceWhen Melissa watched her child play, it brought home how different her own childhood was
Melissa was born in the early 1970s. She grew up in a deprived area that she describes as ‘rife with criminal behaviour’.
She endured a childhood and adolescence of chaos, neglect, violence and sexual abuse, but was determined that her son would have a better experience.
read full account of Nathanaels experienceThe teacher who sexually abused Nathanael lost interest in him when Nathanael reached his mid-teens
Bullied and friendless at his boarding school, Nathanael was groomed and sexually abused by a teacher.
When the teacher lost interest in him, he felt hurt and rejected.
read full account of Serenas experienceThe police said that messages on Serena’s phone showed she had not been sexually assaulted
Serena was sexually abused as a young child, and again as a teenager.
Her experiences with the police have caused her to lose faith in them.
read full account of Sues experienceSue shared her experience and hopes it will draw a line under the sexual abuse and help her move forward
Sue grew up in an isolated part of the country and attended a small primary school, where there were few visitors, after-school clubs or external influences.
Her primary school headteacher, Mr Parker, abused her and other children, and she knows that this was common knowledge in the community. She believes that there were ‘so many opportunities to stop this man’ but he was allowed to continue.
read full account of Laoises experienceLaoise told her social worker she didn’t want to get hurt any more
Laoise’s mother often had to stay in hospital, and Laoise would be sent to stay with foster parents.
She was sexually abused by an older girl in the foster family.
read full account of Delias experienceDelia would like to see a campaign telling people ‘the police are there to help’
A trusted figure in the community saw that Delia was a vulnerable child and sexually abused her over eight years.
She had a positive experience with the police and the courts when she reported the abuse years later.