Oxford schoolgirl abduction didn't happen, police suddenly announced

IAmAmy What you said, and what I've said, are similar. I don't know what your issue is.

I didn't say that the rape did not happen. Please read what I wrote again. They have said they are looking into the allegations but that the abduction did not take place.
That is what I'm reading right now IAmAmy

They've said exactly what I said and nothing which would imply what you said.

If you look at BBC News it says that the they are still looking into the the rape allegations but that the abduction did not happen.

They've said no such thing Pickled0nions. They've said they established an abduction didn't take place and they're now investigating the rape only. There will I would have thought be evidence a rape took place. That sort of comment is pretty unpleasant in my opinion.

If I remember correctly, the first news reports did allude to their being some sort of "hug" in the street that she was then bungled into a car, I think?

So it may be that they no longer consider it to have been an abduction.

But there is still a 14 year old girl who has been raped, which is the more traumatic bit of the incident anyway

I read this story today too. They said that they're not sure if the allegations are true right now but have confirmed that no abduction took place.

It's possible that the story is made up.

Poor girl. Whatever happened it sounds like she went through an ordeal she didn't want to happen. And yes, if she's 14 it's rape.

Saracen's post is really good advice

Adopting Saracens approach would be the best course of action with regard to your daughter.

She was 14. She was raped.

Children are sexually abused all the time. We don't want to think about that- particularly as they are usually abused by a family member. So we focus on the almost zero chance of our children being abducted.

This case fed the abduction and rape narrative- -and made it easier still for us to ignore the real dangers our children face. Sadly, the poor girl in the center of it will suffer the backlash.

Oh yes those poor men she is 14 fgs you would think with all that has come out about historic sex abuse you would think people would be more sympathetic and understanding but no it's still poor men.

Oh my word that is vile. She's a 14 year old girl and they're adult men, it upsets me to know people in her community are saying such a thing. Well it horrifies me that so many people think like that everywhere. That kind of attitude is probably part of why the abduction was part of the initial version of events.

The likelihood is that she feels / has been made to feel that she 'asked for it'. Maybe she did know them, chatted on social media etc. So when she was raped she felt she had to add abducted or no one would believe her.. after all, if she went willingly it ain't rape, is it?

Well, no, it ain't - if you're the type of pillock who calls for her to be named and shamed... thing of the poor mans!

I didn't read it as you speculating i was just probably clumsily try to say what the gossip might be i can imagine it is rife where you are

I see the 'twits' are calling for all the usual - name her, shame her, charge her, put her in a jail cell and throw away the key. I'm just waiting for the biggie - "those poor men"...

In answer to your concern about how to discuss this with your daughter, you could use the situation as a springboard to discuss related subjects, regardless of what actually happened in this particular case.

You could, for example, reassure her that YOU would always believe and support her if she says something happened to her. You could mention that sometimes rape victims are afraid to say what happened to them because they fear being blamed, but it is NEVER the victim's fault, no matter how she ended up in a vulnerable situation.

You could talk about the fact that a large proportion of (most?) rapes are perpetrated by acquaintances. You could discuss date rape and the meaning of consent. YouTuber Laci Green has some great videos exploring the topic of consent.

You could tell her that sometimes when people have been abused or attacked and are frightened, they initially may say something which isn't the literal truth. That is not the same as lying. They still need help and support.

There must be evidence she was raped so she still went through an awful ordeal and needs support from everyone. I hope progress is being made finding those responsible.

For others in the area it will hopefully be a little reassuring that the abduction didn't happen - I know it is for me as someone who lives elsewhere but was very upset by it. I hope girls feel able to regain their independence and confidence going out.

My take on it from personal experience is the first account given is from the victim who says she was abducted (and raped). During the investigation it has come to light she was not ABDUCTED. (Nothing about the rape).

This could have come to light from various things. The victim changing her story, CCTV showing her willingly getting in the vehicle, content of messages arranging to meet said offenders etc etc.

The police have to put this press release out as quite rightly many many people were very frightened about being abducted (let alone the rape). I know it hard to believe but there are a lot of people out there who do lie about these things for various reason. There are also a lot of people who do not lie.

This will not make the police disbelieve any future reports.

She is still saying she was raped, just that she went willingly with him/them/whoever.

I think the Police have announced this to allay parents' fears - it's everyone's worst nightmare that their daughter is abducted by strangers and raped, especially abducted from a busy street in rush hour. They're saying this bit didn't happen for reassurance.

It will all come out eventually.