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 Bobbys experienceViolence was ‘normal’ for Bobby when he was growing up, which left him vulnerable to sexual abuse
Bobby’s parents were alcoholics and had a violent relationship, which Bobby often witnessed. The family were known to social services and he was in and out of care as a child.
On one occasion he was placed with a ‘lovely’ foster family, but he says he could not emotionally handle their niceness. Social services placed him with another family that he did not like from the first meeting.The foster father used to mock him. Bobby told the social worker that he did not want to stay with the foster family, but he was left there.
read full account of Claras experienceIt took Clara many years to stop feeling responsible for the abuse she suffered
Clara lived with her sibling, her mum and her mum’s partner.
Her stepfather sexually abused her. Social services were involved with the family but did not see the signs.
read full account of Martines experienceMartine says she has ‘a sense of shame’ about the abuse she endured throughout her young life
Martine’s mother had several children when she was very young, and was unable to look after them.
Martine and her siblings spent their early childhood in different care placements. She was subjected to sexual abuse by several different residents and members of staff.
read full account of Jensens experienceJensen says talking about being abused is like ‘shedding that shell’ he had put around him
Jensen was sexually abused by a man who was lodging with one of his friends.
When his mother told the police she was concerned, they said there was nothing they could do.
read full account of Garrys experienceGarry finds it very painful that sexual abuse by females on males is often treated as a joke
Garry was born with a sensory impairment. He attended a secondary school that had a specialised unit that should have met his needs.
Instead, the school leadership failed to protect him when he was sexually, physically and emotionally abused by other pupils in the school.
read full account of Jemimas experienceJemima felt she had left other children to suffer when she escaped her abusive foster home
Jemima suffered extreme cruelty and sexual abuse by members of the family who fostered her.
When she left, she was tormented with grief and guilt that they were still abusing other children.
read full account of Rubies experienceRubie says ‘Certain predatory people can spot vulnerabilities in a room full of children’
Rubie was subjected to sexual abuse as a child by four different men.
For many years, she thought it must be her fault that people saw her as an easy target for abuse.
read full account of Lorraines experienceLorraine says when she was growing up, children ‘were all but dismissed’
Lorraine was sexually abused by a teacher, who was also a local dignitary.
She was told off for talking about the abuse, which made her reluctant to complain when another man in the community also abused her.
read full account of Billies experienceBillie thinks she successfully hid the fact she was being abused, but she self-harmed in an extreme way
Billie was sexually abused by a neighbour when she was a small child.
Later, a teacher who was grooming her made her feel she had disappointed him when she told him about this, and he still went on to abuse her.
read full account of Sullivans experienceA predatory teacher exploited Sullivan’s confusion about his sexuality
Sullivan was sexually abused by a teacher at the Catholic boys’ school he attended.
The abuse first occurred when he was 13 years old, and he believes the abuser sensed he was vulnerable and was struggling with his sexual identity.
read full account of Iras experienceIra feels if you have been abused, you have to want to ‘open the box’. Once you do, things can slowly heal
Ira says his parents were ‘incredible’, ensuring their children had the best life possible.
But sexual abuse by an older boy, and his father’s very masculine values have left him troubled and confused about his sexuality and relationships. However, he has many thoughtful insights into the impact of his experiences and ideas to make things better for the future.
read full account of Humairas experienceAfter her marriage, Humaira says, ‘I was living with my abuser’
Humaira grew up in a South Asian Muslim family. They lived in a close knit community in a very deprived urban area.
She was sexually abused by two relatives, and later forced to marry one of them.