I was stuck in an unfamiliar place with a sexual predator, in tears and feeling guilty

GRANDFATHER TORMENTED FOR 50 YEARS BY ABUSE AS CHILD

A CHILD abuse survivor who lived with his secret for almost 50 years has told how he is finally rebuilding his life.

Rob Pugal, now 66, endured the inner torment until just a few years ago when he finally told his family what he had gone through.

The grandfather-of-two began to receive much-needed counselling and decided he was ready to report the abuse before he was dealt a devastating blow and found out that the perpetrator had died.

Rob, who was raised in the West End of Newcastle, was sexually abused by a family friend who had groomed him between the ages of 10 and 12.

As a child he knew what had Rob Pugal with his grandson Jake happened to him was wrong but says he felt guilty and unable to tell his parents.

He lived with that shame until he was 60 and his wife and daughter contacted their doctor because he was in “a very dark place”.

Rob, who is a retired manager for a food manufacturing factory in County Durham, said: “I now most certainly do realise how incredibly difficult it can be for a child that’s being abused to make that very first move to speak out and tell a trusted adult or to pick up the phone and call Childline.

“Thankfully, I’ve now dealt with it but it took me until I reached 60 years old for it to happen.

“For 50 years I had that guilt – thinking that it was entirely my own fault. So, it just sat there deep inside of me for the whole of that time and I didn’t tell anyone.”

Rob’s parents moved to the North East from India and he said his abuser “manoeuvred his way” into their home.

He said: “Back in the day, having a white British man come to your house and take some interest in your family and kids – it was almost like some form of acceptance.

“He presented himself as a really nice person. He introduced us to a local youth club. This is how he got close to predominantly Asian boys of my age.”

One particularly haunting memory Rob lived with was the man taking him on holiday and abusing him during the night.

“I was stuck in an unfamiliar place with a sexual predator, in tears and feeling very guilty. I couldn’t tell my parents – what would they say or do to me, I thought. There were all these barriers.”

Rob, who lives in Whitley Bay, is now spending his free time visiting ROB PUGAL