General Chat

NSPCC said today that they usually get around 200 reports a week about sexual abuse - since this Rolf Harris affair they had have 350 and are expecting more - it has empowered victims to come forward - as did the Jimmy Saville case

Dolly, I think I would

As has been said in earlier posts, the more people who tell a story about an abuser the more victims will maybe given the encouragement to speak out.

Not telling about such horrific events, however painful, only let's these sorts of vile acts get swept under the carpet, and stay there.

Your son's case might not have gone to court as yet Ann, there are all sorts of reasons that it may not have, it may not mean there isn't a case to answer, but because your son has been brave enough to tell the police of the abuse, when his abuser does it again, or another of his victims comes forward your son's statement will be invaluable.

would like to make it clear - I have reported no postings

There is no difference between the spellings in common English usage.
I have apologised. If you choose not to accept that apology that is up to you.
If the topic causes such obvious torment and pain then maybe an open forum is not the best place to discuss it. Again, I intend no offense or offence and apologise if any has been caused.

well you have caused offence - that's offence with a "c" by the way, and I do not forgive you - that would be too easy - please leave it there

the only reason I posted my son's case was to illustrate how long it can take to make an accusation and how painful it is - why would a married man in his mid forties do such a thing as to relive such a traumatic event in his life

I have no intention of causing offense and apologise if I have. All I am saying is that a person cannot be labelled guilty if they have not been found to be so.

I find your comments offensive in the extreme - as a family we went to hell and back - I did not say that the CPS decided whether he was guilty or not - I said they felt a jury would not find him guilty and they were probably right so can you leave it there

I am shaking with rage at your comments - no doubt what you wanted

I was not throwing doubt on it at all and truly feel for anyone who has been through that, but under UK law a person has to be found guilty by a court and/or jury. I was not jumping in, I was adding to a public thread.
The CPS do not decide whether a person is guilty or not. They decide on whether a court case should go ahead.

just take it that I know far more about this case than you ever will and I do not need you jumping in throwing doubt on it thank you

Just because the chap was thrown out by his family does not mean that it was true - I would have thought that only a jury could decide that.
All the CPS do is to recommend whether a case is likely to achieve a conviction or not, based on a number of factors.

I would

On another note...... If you had a person in your tree who did such crimes, would you make notes about that said crime and add it into your tree?

the reason the abused take so long to make their accusations is becuse it takes courage - real courage - their lives have in many cases been wrecked emotionally - I know this from first hand as my son was a victim at the age of 12 - it took him over thirty years to buck up the courage and confidence to report it to the police - just before the Saville goings on came to light - it was thoroughly investigated and he was believed 100% - the guy lost his family - they threw him out - so they knew it was true, and he lost his job and his career - unfortunately because no other victims have yet come forward the Crown Prosecution Service explained they would not be taking it to court as it was unlikely a jury would find him guilty - however there is no statute of limitation and it may well be that one of his other victims - and there will be others - will come forward - things may then take a different turn. The CPS wrote a letter to my son explaining their decision and offered him a meeting with them if he wished

My son feel he has been vindicated and has closure to a certain degree, but a prosecution would be the icing on the cake

As for Rolf Harris, at the time this case was going on in the UK, in Australia dozens of victims were coming forward and they had witnesses to corroborate their stories - it could not be aired in the UK fo fear of jeapording the case over here

Those close to abusers often find it hard to accept, especially if it's a trusted family member. And sometimes charges are made up. But usually they aren't. Every high profile conviction makes it easier for victims to speak out.

Because what they do in their eyes isnt unnatural and tainted to a perverts mind,,,,,,,,its all acceptable behaviour and nothing sordid.........plus their fame means they belive their perversion gives them the licence to do just what they like.....


Its a victory hopefully in that it means the up and coming young and impressional now know its wrong and they will be belived and give them courage to make a complint if anything untowards happens in their life..

The more publicity about these vile people the better.

One of Rolph's victims was indeed the daughter of a close family friend, so Rolph certainly didn't mind who he abused, friends, strangers, he didn't care :-(

I've just heard an interview with Vince Hill about Rolph, they have been friends for 50 years, and Vince Hill found it very difficult to believe that his friend was in fact an abuser of children and adults, which is understandable.

The interviewer asked him if putting friendship aside, did he accept that he was in fact an abuser, reluctantly Vince said yes, then in the background Vince's wife said " jurors can be wrong" the interviewer asked to speak to Vince's wife, then asked her if she accepted that Rolph was an abuser, she said " no she didn't, and her and Vince didn't believe it"


12 guilty verdicts, brought by 4 women, plus all the other bad character witnesses that were heard in court, re his offences.... and there are still those who say, "Oh he wouldn't do that, he was such a lovely man" So she thinks the victims lied.


That is why abusers get away with what they do, as Esther Rantzen quoted ...

Monsters don't get near children, nice men do.

But the children did trust him and he had the cheek to film a programme with children on abuse.

Now that is a twisted pervert.

While being pleased that the high profile cases are being prosecuted it's important not to forget that most abuse happens within the family or the social circle of the family. Abuse by strangers, even famous ones, is still a rarity.

We must always be aware that children are in more danger of abuse from people they know and trust.

I am very pleased his victims have received the recognition of their abuse.

I remain hopeful, but not confident, that a number of other high profile abusers are charged. Their victims campaign every day and offer support to others who have suffered but for whatever political reasons pressure was applied to 'take no further action'.

If you read their stories you could weep. I admire their courage in putting their humiliation in the public domain and I sincerely hope they achieve justice too.

This sends shivers down my spine. It was a different time then.

I now realise how forward thinking my dad was. I remember him telling me (whilst I was 'helping' him in yet another failed DIY project) - I was about 10 (1966) - that my body was mine, and I could do what I wanted with it, but no-one else could!
Dad (I found out much later - like 20 years ago) was a master in unarmed combat, and in my early teens showed me a couple of defensive 'moves' - but not in a 'you may need these' way, more in a 'don't do this, it will cause a great deal of pain' way. :-D

I found out (accidently) that he was right - and (obviously) showed my daughters
:-D

He also instilled in me the ethos that I was no worse, and no better (very important that) than anyone else, so the 'fame' of others has never meant a lot to me.

A famous musician once 'tried it on' with me, in 1986, (I was 30) in a most ungentlemanly manner. I was tipsy - it was a dance, (therefore according to this bloke, 'available') but I am not stupid, neither am I 'easy' and was not impressed :-|
He certainly wasn't expecting a rant about his lack of morals, sexist presumptions and disgusting manners :-D :-D
Yet, even then, I was asked to 'cool it', as apparently, this was 'Insert name of famous clarinetist'. Had the wine bottle I was holding been empty, it would have ended up around his head.

Children wouldn't stand a chance with determined predators.