I’M HAUNTED BY MY DAUGHTER’S ABUSE

Two years ago, a gang of teenagers linked to my beautiful daughter’s school groomed her. I later discovered they had raped her when she turned 13 and that she had become addicted to drugs. She reported it, but would not give their names as they had told her that worse would happen if she did. We moved to a different area and I sent her to a new school, but she began truanting. Then she got involved with an abusive man who gave her drugs. She started disappearing and I had to call the police several times. She began physically attacking her brother and me. Eventually, I couldn’t take any more and asked social services to take her into care. It broke my heart. But it hasn’t helped – she is still on drugs and seeking out abusive men. I am on a waiting list for counselling. I am clinging on to life by my fingertips, but keep going for my son’s sake. What has happened to your daughter is absolutely appalling – it’s no wonder you are completely devastated. It is important that any men who have abused her are reported to the police. I am very concerned about you and want you to get help and support. Please contact one or all of the following: Mosac (mosac.org.uk, 0800 980 1958) helps parents and families of children who have been abused; The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (napac.org.uk, 0808 801 0331) also offers support to parents, and Help For Adult Victims of Child Abuse (havoca.org) provides online forums and can direct you to your nearest support groups for survivors of abuse and those who wish to support them. I hope that, in time, you and your daughter will be able to have a relationship.