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 Pennys experiencePenny was sexually abused by the deputy matron in the care home where she was a teenage volunteer
Penny’s early childhood years were difficult. Her father had mental health problems and she was physically abused and emotionally neglected. The family frequently moved house.
When Penny was in her early teens, the matron of a local care home came into her school asking for volunteers. Penny decided to do this.
read full account of Carters experienceCarter has felt shame that he was brutally abused by a Scout leader
When Carter joined a Scout group he met a leader called Bernard, who was in his early 20s.
Bernard groomed Carter, drugged him and raped him.
read full account of Paddys experiencePaddy is afraid that people might judge him if they knew he had been sexually abused as a child
After his father died in an accident, Paddy was sent to live in a children’s home.
A male member of staff groomed and sexually abused him. He believes he was vulnerable to this man’s attention because he had no father.
read full account of Isseys experienceIssey thinks parents need more support and advice if their child is sexually abused
Issey was sexually abused by an adult male relative.
When her family reported the abuse to social services, they were advised not to go to the police.
read full account of Anne s experienceAnne was hospitalised with a severe urinary infection, but no one questioned the reason for this
Anne was sexually abused by her family doctor.
She says ‘My family were well-disposed to him and thought he was a lovely old man’.
read full account of Laura-Janes experienceLaura-Jane describes the sexual abuse she experienced as ‘an exercise of power over someone who had none’
Laura-Jane was sexually abused by a teacher on the pretext of punishing her for a childish game she had played with her friends.
He remained in his job and was accepted by the community after he appeared in court facing allegations of child sexual abuse.
read full account of Guys experienceGuy hated being sexually abused by his dad, but he also saw the abuse as the affection he craved
Guy’s parents did not give him any love or care.
He says that when he realised his father was sexually abusing his sister, he was partly jealous of the attention she was receiving.
read full account of Leonards experienceLeonard is upset that his parents’ trust was betrayed by the priests who sexually abused him
Leonard’s family were devout Christians and he and his two siblings were sent to church schools. He and one of his siblings were sexually abused by priests but at the time did not confide in each other or their parents.
Leonard describes how tortured he felt by the abuse, and his distress that his parents were so cruelly deceived by people they respected and trusted.
read full account of Debss experienceDebs wanted to protect her sister, so she returned to the family home where she was being abused
Debs begged to be taken into care so she could escape her stepfather who was sexually abusing her.
But when her mother had another child, she went back home because she was worried for the safety of her half-sister.
read full account of Chases experienceTo avoid school bullies Chase sought the protection of a teacher, who turned out to be a predator
Chase was sexually abused in a residential school where a teacher faced allegations of child abuse.
He feels let down by the psychiatric and education professionals who sent him to the school.
read full account of Doreens experienceDoreen says ‘It would have been nice to be in a long relationship, but I can’t let anyone touch me’
Doreen has vivid visual memories of the teacher who sexually abused her when she was a small child.
Her traumatic experiences have made it impossible for her to settle in a relationship, and she is sad about this.
read full account of Andres experienceAndre says ‘I'm sick to death of reading in the papers of another child being abused’
Andre hopes that by sharing his experience he may help to protect other children from abuse.
He was sexually abused over seven years by a Catholic priest who befriended and groomed the whole family to gain access to Andre.