We now have a system that supports the abusers...it’s got to change
Victim of notorious child sex ring condemns law that gives rapist rights over the future of her son
A RAPE survivor has slammed the family justice system, saying it gave her attacker rights to see the son he conceived.
Sammy Woodhouse, 35, is now fighting for justice for victims who have suffered over the years due to the law.
The Daily Express’s End This Injustice campaign saw the Government pledge an overhaul of the Family Court system, along with extra protections for victims.
It came in the wake of criticisms in the Ministry of Justice’s Harm in the Family Courts report.
But Sammy insists the “forgotten” victims who have gone through the system in the past now need a voice.
Sammy was a victim of the notorious Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal. Her son, 19, was conceived through rape, but she later discovered the father, who was imprisoned, had been invited to have a say in her son’s future.
She said: “The Harm report has come out and people have previously been treated badly – but it’s just been left. There are all these women suffering with no way to help them whatsoever.
“People have forgotten about it – the past and the present have to be dealt with.
“The report’s evidence that people have been harmed through the court’s wrongdoing, they say lessons have been learned.
“We have got to help the people who are forgotten. It’s about giving those people a voice as well.
“The Domestic Abuse Bill is going to be through.There will be changes made and that can help people going forward, but there is nothing in there about the people who have been affected. Our campaign is based on the forgotten people.
“With Rotherham, we had the investigation that harm was done.
“We were fortunate to have the opportunity to go back and correct it. People in the Family Court should have the same opportunity.
“We recognise harm was done and we have to give people their voice and justice to those who have gone through the Family Court.”
Recalling her Family Court experiences, she added: “His rights overpowered my rights. He’s not on the birth certificate. Legally, he should not have any rights.
“We have a system that supports paedophiles. It’s just crazy what’s happening.The Family Court is a closed court and no one is able to challenge it. No one should be allowed to have that power.We need to open the Family Court.”
She added: “Professionals were encouraging my son to go to prison and visit the rapist in search for answers as he struggled to come to terms with what the rapist had done and how he was conceived.The professionals did not consider any emotional harm this would cause to my son and my family. Thankfully, my son didn’t visit him in prison.
“However, in 2020, the rapist phoned my son from prison. Despite
it being only one phone call, it has left devastating consequences.
“My son has now reached out to services for help. However, there aren’t any services qualified in this area and able to support him.”
Those jailed for their part in the Rotherham grooming scandal included Arshid Hussain, 40, who got 35 years, while brothers Basharat, 39, and Bannaras, 36, got 25 and 19 years respectively.
Following the publication of the Harm report, justice minister Alex Chalk said: “This report lays bare many hard truths about long-standing failings in the family justice system, especially in protecting the survivors of abuse and their children from harm.
“It is not a comfortable read. There are some fundamental issues
that we must address.” Campaigner Victoria Hudson, 45, said getting an appeal is “nearly impossible”.
She said: “Alex Chalk says victims recognised in the Harm report can go back for an appeal or contact proceedings, but we’re going back to the same broken system.
Harmed
“It’s nearly impossible to get an appeal as you are appealing a point of law and not the lack of understanding of domestic abuse or a safeguarding issue.
“Contact proceedings will help the victims who have residency of their child to perpetrator of their abuse.
“Victims and their children harmed through the Family Court not lost the
deserve an avenue for recourse.” The Government has also launched a review into aspects of parental involvement, to see whether the right balance is being struck between the risk of harm to children and victims, and the right of the child to have a relationship with both parents.
Mr Chalk said: “We are determined to strike the right balance between making sure children are safe while ensuring they have the best possible family life.
“This is a complex area and any action we take after this review must be rooted in solid evidence. That is why it’s so important we take the time to look at this thoroughly.”
The Domestic Abuse Bill returns to Parliament today for the consideration of amendments.