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 Fabians experienceFabian says homophobia at boarding school let his abuser emotionally blackmail him
Fabian was educated in prestigious boarding schools from the age of eight.
He was sexually abused by a senior scholar who later became his teacher, who he had asked to protect him from bullying.
read full account of Jeannies experienceThe man who was sexually abusing Jeannie was allowed to formally adopt her
Jeannie’s stepfather worked for the emergency services and was regarded by many people as a ‘hero figure’.
But behind closed doors in the family home, he was a domestic and sexual abuser.
read full account of Simmeons experienceSimmeon was subjected to sexual abuse at boarding school and at home
Simmeon was sexually abused by his older brother and two members of staff.
During school holidays, his older brother sexually abused him, and this continued for many years into his adult life.
read full account of Garys experienceGary says ‘My parents thought the school would look after us but they wanted to cover it up’
Gary was one a group of boys who were sexually abused by a member of the support staff at their school.
When they complained, teaching staff in the school ostracised them to the extent that their education was affected. The abuser was later convicted.
read full account of Millies experienceMillie reported that her brother was sexually abusing her, but he was allowed to stay at home
Millie grew up in a troubled family. She was sexually abused by two male family members. One was convicted but the police did not act on her report about the second abuser.
Millie knows that services were involved with her family before she was born. She believes that she and one of her older brothers were conceived after her mother was raped. Her mother was an alcoholic and had mental health difficulties.
read full account of Fins experienceFin was sexually abused as a boy sailor in the Navy in the 1950s
Fin says that until the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal emerged, he felt he had put the events that happened to him as a teenager ‘more or less to bed’, but now describes how being sexually abused has had a lasting effect on him.
He joined the navy in the 1950s as a boy sailor. The officer in charge of the sailing school praised his talent and put him in a position of responsibility.
read full account of Issacs experienceTwo institutions failed to take action against the man who sexually abused Issac
Issac was sexually abused by a leader in the Salvation Army.
He decided to share a written account of his experience with the Truth Project because he wants to contribute to the conversation about child sexual abuse.
read full account of Alfs experienceAlf says that writing about the abuse he suffered has helped him come to terms with it
Alf was orphaned when he was a young child and placed in care.
He was sexually and physically abused by two carers, and years later was shocked to discover that social services had ignored clear signs that something was wrong.
read full account of Nias experienceFor decades after she was sexually abused, Nia was convinced she was a ‘bad person’
Nia explains how she was left feeling unloved and rejected by her parents after they separated and started new lives.
From the age of 12, she was groomed and sexually exploited by a group of men, some of them servicemen from overseas.
read full account of Rosalinds experienceBeing sexually abused had a drastic effect on Rosalind’s behaviour at school
Rosalind was sexually abused by the father of two of her friends.
She became badly behaved at school and depressed, and started self-harming.
read full account of Maksuds experienceMaksud feels betrayed that the man who abused him was a revered figure in his community
Maksud was sexually abused by a religious leader.
He hopes that speaking out about this might help to address the stigma and shame that he says too often silences victims of abuse in his community.
read full account of Warrens experienceA doctor barred Warren’s parents from his examination room so he could sexually abuse his 13-year-old patient
For over 35 years Warren has felt a “black cloud” permanently over him as a result of the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of a doctor.
Warren’s parents had a troubled relationship. His father was violent to him and his mother and by the time he was 12 years old his parents communicated with each other only through him.