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 Ritas experienceRita struggles to understand how such cruel and abusive people could become foster carers
When Rita was four years old, she and her younger brothers were fostered. These small children were shown no love or kindness from their so-called carers, only cruelty, violence and, in Rita’s case, sexual abuse.
The foster carers meted out violent and vindictive punishments to the three children they had taken in, in complete contrast to the way they treated their own son.
read full account of Cadis experienceCadi struggles with feeling she was to blame for the sexual abuse she experienced
Cadi suffered sexual abuse by family members, her husband and strangers.
She says ‘I was left feeling it’s down to me … it keeps happening’.
read full account of Candices experienceCandice says it should not be assumed that placements with relatives are safe for children
Candice was sent to live with relatives because her mother could not look after her.
She was sexually abused by her ‘uncle’, and later discovered he had been accused of abusing another young girl.
read full account of Kays experienceA teacher told Kay to go and have a wash after she was sexually assaulted
Kay was sexually abused by a stranger when she was on a school trip.
She was very let down by the response from school staff after she reported what had happened.
read full account of Lintons experienceLinton says that in the strict care home where he lived ‘you wouldn’t dare speak up’ about sexual abuse
Linton was sent to a children’s home when he was 10.
The supervisor sexually abused him, and many decades later he still struggles with the repercussions of his early experiences.
read full account of Pieters experiencePieter says one of the worst things about the abuse he suffered was how unpredictable it was
Pieter was taken into care as a toddler in the 1960s.
He was subjected to extreme sadistic cruelty and abuse by the Catholic nuns who ran the children’s home.
read full account of Adelas experienceAdela says that people who have been through trauma may not have perfect recall
Adela feels that she was failed by people in authority who should have protected her from abuse.
She would like everyone to understand that people who have been through trauma may not have perfect recall.
read full account of Khloes experienceKhloe says ‘Not one person at any time asked “What’s wrong with you?”’
Khloe was sexually abused by her father for so long that she says she ‘normalised’ it.
She wishes that someone in authority had asked her why she ran away from home and took an overdose.
read full account of Judds experienceJudd says that every child should have someone they feel they can trust to talk to
Judd’s young mother could not cope with her children.
Neglected and vulnerable, he was subjected to sexual abuse by several men.
read full account of Leelas experienceLeela’s parents told her that if she reported being sexually abused, she would end up in care
Leela was sexually abused by her father.
She says this is the only time he showed her any kind of ‘affection’.
read full account of Nelsons experienceNelson would like to see more education for young people on grooming by sexual predators
Nelson was sexually abused by a man who was in a position of trust.
He ‘buried’ the abuse for years and it was only as an adult that he could see how he was manipulated by the abuser.
read full account of Rosys experienceWhen Rosy disclosed sexual abuse to a police officer, she was asked ‘What were you wearing?’
Rosy felt she was to blame for being sexually abused because of the initial reaction of the policewoman she told.
She feels strongly that professionals should choose their words very carefully to avoid seeming to blame victims and survivors of abuse.