It is encouraging to here other woman speak out. I haven't as scary a story as yours but when I was about 10years old, an old man in our local church started paying quite a lot of attention to me.  He would corner me in rooms and be kissy and huggy.  I didn't really think anything of it, or more to the point blocked it out.  I do remember though, when I was about 13 or 14 him coming up behind me and holding on to my boobs quite firmly.  I remember being terrified of being around the man, and told my mum so.  But she didn't realise what was going on.  I am 25 now and have just worked up the courage to tell her exactly what had happened with the man.   She was so sorry that she didn't take so much notice of why I was scared to be around him.  We all need to listen to our friends and relatives cry for help.  We all speak different languages, we just need to tune in.  I also had a friend who I met when I was 15 she used to be a very happy go lucky girl.  Then she started to be quite different person.  She would tell me how much she hated her father.  I didn't think anything of it.  Then one day I was invited to stay over at her house, and was told I didn't need to bring anything.  But when I went to stay at her house, I was given a mattress and that was it.  I also noted that her door had been taken off her room.  She told me her father had done that.  I still didn't think anything of it.  Anyhow,  she started going down hill fast.  She tried committing suicide more than once, and was put in the psych ward on Suicide watch, but after intense counselling, they found out her father had been sexually abusing her from not long after I met her.  Counselling is one of the best things we suggest to anybody, no matter the situation.  Thanks for telling your story and giving others the courage to share theirs!

How brave you are to share your heart felt and very undeserving experience. Your advice is very real. I had an "Uncle" or family friend we called uncle and he pretty much likes the girls when they start going through pubity. I remeber a time when he made me feel so uncomfortable that I was scared to be around him. He wanted to look at my legs talked about my growing breasts and I was trapped in a car alone with him and was lucky not to jump out of the car I was so scared. The unfortunate thing is that I felt that cause this person was such a close family freind who would beleive me anyway. It wasn't until many years later that stories came to light and parents started to ask questions that truth revealed itself. Unfortunately he did more to some of our other freinds daughters so much so that one friend was so devestated in her life that she found out she was pregnant and aborted her baby at 23 weeks. He recked so many lives. He still walks around still today unpunished and his wife new about his behaviour when she was alive. His daughter stayed with me when her child had surgery some years back and he wanted to stay at my house. My daughter was around 11 at the time. I was terrified that he be near my daughter that i spoke on the phone to my parents whom had him stay at their place as the story had been revealed at that time. I had three different expeiences as a child and I have been so truthfull with my children on being aware and always be able to talk with them about anything at any time. You were so very brave to get some help that you needed. Thank you for telling us your advice. Your Mum is avery wonderful person as well. Thanks again. Lisyp

My Eldest daughter went through a simular experience but it was her best friends father who raped her,it made me feel sick to the gut when i found out months later, but now she can talk to me about it but she done the same she ran away thinking that she was in big trouble her poor life was a mess she still to this day won't watch any movies that even look like they have rape in them whice i don't blame her. you yourself need a big pat on the back for being able to talk to people you don't know bravo because of you speaking up may of stoped it from happening to someone else.

Bravo for being so open about something this personal.  I only wish there were more openly supportive people like you.  And your mum  is an absolute treasure.

I wish I had had a mom like yours as my mom wouldn't listen to me when I told her that my stepfather raped me, so it continued for many years before I got away from home and received the help I needed.  He has never been jailed, he got off on a tech.

It was from this event that I chose to talk openly with my kids as often as they would and never said anything about them being stupid or anything like that cause it was important to me that they trusted me and told me almost everything.

Good for you and your mom for getting this guy.

thank you cath it took a lot of courage for me to write it and what leads from this one is my other article called how i overcame selfharming

 What a brave woman you are. It must of been difficult for you to write. Please know that in doing so, you are helping others. You have a fantastic mum and I'm so glad she was there to help you through it.

Cath xxoo

I know of a male that was only 5 when assaulted by a (male) family friend. This happened for 2 years, without his mother knowing. The only reason she eventually found out, is that another kid blew the whistle and the police got involved. This guy was so embarrassed that his mother had found out, but it only happened "cause he used to play in the mud though his mother told him not to, and this was the only person who would wash the c lothes before he went home, so he wouldn't get into trouble. Nothing was done, that I know of. The guy got away with it, and died, without justice being done. This friend of mine STILL lives with the trauma, and blames GOD for what happened. Even his mum feels ashamed.

I have a neice that is not willing to stay home, but would rather be out living with one friend a few days then another etc. until She has run out of friends. Her Mother is beside Herself, and recently paid a train ticket for Her Daughtyer to be able to come home.I know that She is sleeping about and using Hooch, Somehow She thinks Her Friends are so cool, and truthfully ,Has no Idea that Her Parents and My Family,and all Her Rellies Love Her, and wish the besty for Her.

I drove up The drive where She is at the moment

, which happens to be Her parents Home.

I was greeted to the sight of a T- Shirt hanging on the clothes line, with the slogan , Fxxxk You All on it, and I couldn't stay around any more, or I would have caused Quite a scene.

When I arrived back at Home , I rang Her  Mobile and told Her that She had better get that shirt off the line before Her Mother comes Home, as She would be so Dissapointed and sad.

I know this Girl will go to Her Friends again. And I know She won't learn anything, until She is Hurt, but, Our Hands are tied. It is so frustating,!  We can only be there when She falls and Dare not whinge, or Nag,.

I hope that , Like Colleen, She will be able to reconcile with Her Mum.

Regards from a Hopeful Uncle. I know peop0le will wonder about an uncle getting so involved with a young person, But, I just do not want Her to be hurt Like I was . and like many others out there. I just want a good life for Her.e

Having also  been a victim of childhood sexual assault, nothing as violent as this poor girl went through.  You are so very brave to come out and tell others about what happened to you, you will be so much better for having spoken up and your Mum is a real Mum.

I was very silly but then again back when I was young and this happened to me people did not help like they do now. I was 8 and it was1951 and my Dad was dying so I do not blame my Mum fo not listenin to me.

When I was 42 my Mum and I had a long talk and lotsof tears and resolved a lot of issues, I so wish th had hapened many years earlier but it is better lte than never BELIEVE me.

this story is one from the pore kid but as i am a mum who is going thru this and my little girl is so damaged it is so hard to get the help needed so any one that can please help any one who needs it we are so drained in every way yyou could think and make things worse she was only 4 when it started and now is 13 and this year told me its so hard

sending you huge hugs sweety.

Its a hard thing to live through and get past..

Thank you for sharing.

im so lucky i have my mum

I am glad there were people around you who were able to gently lead you to making the right decisions and support you through the process.  What a special time that must have been with your Mum in the hospital.  Sounds like she really came through for you there and you learnt a lot through that experience. 

Thank you for sharing this with us.  It is a world I had no idea existed when I was that age though I have helped a couple of teenagers since I left home and have come close to their pain and been able to help them through. 

Peace
EF.x

Awesome job with the spaces- it's much easier to read.

As for that sick b@s^r*d, that sentence is even more perposterous than most I've heard of!! That's aweful! After the damage he did to you, he deserved alot worse than that! It's almost enought to move me to being in favor of castration! (I'm usually not because rape is about power and control, not sex, and so if you remove the implement, they'll just use another implement and the consequences of that could be nasty....) But this is almost enought to change my mind! 3 months!!!!! GRRRRRRGRRRRGRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!

After the damage he did to you, i'd figured 5 years! How aweful for you. But it is awesome that your Mom pushed the issue and made sure this happened and got you your comp claim. It seems to me that knowing your mom pushed this did more for you than the justice system did! Ahg!

Another reason I dislike goverment systems!

 thank you for the comments and also yes i will edit it to put in spaces to make it easier to read

Thanks for sharing this difficult part of your lifes journey. You are very brave and corageous, please never ever forget this....

I am so glad that your mum is and was there for you....and sorry that he did not get a longer punishment - it does not matter his age...It just is not right!!!

Can I just ask one thing....Can you please add in spaces into your writing? it gets a bit hard to read all bundled together....

Stay strong...

Cheers Spinnychic

thank you for the comments and to answer your question he got three months  for what he did to me he was16 and a half

Well shared!

Thanks for sharing your story- I hadn't heard of such severe internal damage before.. I think many people, even those who deal with this kind of stuff, would benefit from hearing your story.

You make very good points at end of your advice. Well done! The laws and time frames are different in different countries, but hte principles usually hold true- and it does here.

thank you for saying that people should never shower! That's one of the problems we ran into a lot when I was a volunteer with a sexual assault center- people would shower, or wait more than 48 hours, and then the evidence is gone... and often so is the couirt case, but that depends on other things.

Can I be nosy and ask what kind of sentence this sick and twisted man got? At least here, I've often been woefully disapointed at the sentences!

 I'm sorry that you had to suffer through this awful ordeal at such an young age ( or any age) You are such a strong person for opening up and telling your heartfelt story, I'm just so glad that your Mum was right there by your side. The best thing I best thing I read out of your story is that the animal was put away.

Keep on recovering, sweetie.

Regards Jnaice

it took alot for me to talk about this but it also happened 2 more times after this aswell

How awful and scary for you you poor thing i hope u are getting through this such an ordeal for you you are so strong

Thanx 4 sharing ur story must have been so hard for you

hugs to you xx

Hi there,

Thanks for sharing your story with us all, thanfully your mum was there for you and this is GREAT as you really needed her support through all of this.

Cheers Kellz

Thank you for sharing this with us all, and im crying so much, as what a ordeal to go through at a young age.. im Happy for u but that your mum was there for you to support you

Good he got put away as well..

xx cazza