The enduring fear of survivors of child sex abuse

Over recent days, there has been a lot of media attention on the release from prison of Shabir Ahmed. 

Ahmed was the ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang that groomed and sexually abused young girls. He was convicted in 2012 of a number of child sexual offences including rape and sentenced to 22 years imprisonment. He was released from prison on Thursday 2nd July after serving 14 years of his sentence. 

What caught my attention was not the calls to change the immigration laws so that he can be deported but an interview with a survivor who told reporters that she was now scared for her own safety and the safety of her children. 

That fear is entirely genuine and understandable. Abusers often threaten to harm the survivor of the abuse or their family if the abuse is disclosed to the authorities. When the abuse has been reported to the authorities, the survivors of abuse are scared of the risks to them from the abuser and their family and friends. In relation to grooming gangs, the survivors of the abuse often live in fear because their abusers or their families and friends still walk the streets of the town they live in.

I have current clients who, years after their abuser has been convicted of their abuse, still receive updates to confirm their abuser’s continued imprisonment and are to be notified if the abuser is up for parole or are to be released from prison. Another client monitors her abuser on social media so that she knows where her abuser (who has been released from prison) is.

The survivors of Ahmed’s abuse need to be provided with long-term consistent support and not just short-term intervention whilst the story is in the media spotlight. Any breach of his licence conditions or threats against the survivors of his abuse by his family or friends must be dealt with robustly to ensure the safety of the survivors. 

The survivors of sexual abuse by grooming gangs have repeatedly been let down by the authorities and sustained action and support for them now is essential.      

Help from Jordans Solicitors     

At Jordans Solicitors we act for clients who have suffered sexual abuse by grooming gangs as children as well as vulnerable children and young adults whom it is alleged were sexually abused. 

If you or your child have been affected by anything in this article and would like to speak to one of our highly qualified abuse team members in confidence, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our skilled abuse team are highly experienced in this area and will advise you on the available options for pursuing a civil damages claim. 

Please contact the abuse team on 0800 9555 094 or request a call back here.