Waiting on the verdict... handhold please! *[Content warning: concerns childhood sexual abuse]

[withpeaceandlove]

Waiting to find out the verdict in my childhood sexual abuse case. The trial started on Monday and should (fingers crossed) end today. I'm so on edge and I can't get my mind to engage with anything else, it's been 4 years since I made the report and I'm so desperate for it all to be worth it. Can't help but sit by my phone waiting on the call... just need a handhold and a distraction

This is brilliant news!! So pleased for you OP!

Oh thats fantastic. Well done you . So pleased you should be v proud of yourself. X

Great outcome OP. You're so very brave seeing this through x

I'd just like to say, @withpeaceandlove, that I'm so pleased for you getting this justice and acknowledgement.

That is fantastic! Go you brave thing!! I hope you have people to celebrate with, and much celebrating planned, because this is a victory for you, and a victory you have scored for justice!

Very pleased for you. Here's hoping they throw the key in the ocean from a great height.

Thank you so much everyone! Thinking of you @WingingItSince1973 it's hard at the best of times but not even having the option of justice is just terrible.
Sentencing is today so that will be the real moment of truth.

Thinking of you today @withpeaceandlove. Hope they throw away the key.

I'm in awe of your strength

Well done, withpeacandlove. So glad.

I'm in awe of your strength

Me too, and of your bravery

Been thinking of you today

Thank you @Motherrunner1 and everyone for the support💕
He got 9 years with at least 5.5 to be served inside!! (hopefully not too outing)

Good. And you should be bloody proud of yourself

Good. Bloody well done you.

That's fantastic news. I hope it helps you to heal.

Wow! That’s so good. I’m sure he deserves more obviously but that’s a proper sentence. No suspended sentence and time served rubbish.

That's a proper sentence.

I disagree sorry. Victims or rather survivors carry the life sentence for ever. I'm in no way saying Op can't and won't find closure but It'll always be there. It's bound to be. I don't think 9years or rather 5.5 years is anywhere near enough of a reflective punishment for taking and destroying a child's innocent. If it were up to me there'd be rusty blunt knife involved minus the anesthetic along with at the very very least 20 years inside.

All that said though. I am delighted for Op that it was the right verdict.

@withpeaceandlove

Thank you *@Motherrunner1* and everyone for the support💕 He got 9 years with at least 5.5 to be served inside!! (hopefully not too outing)

Good to hear. Well done for being so brave. Sending a virtual hug

I did say I’m sure he deserves more. And I clarified what I meant. He will serve actual jail time. He didn’t get a suspended sentence nor a reduced sentence due to time already served.

I know the victims serve a life sentence. I also know that all too often the perpetrator gets off Scot free and that is what I meant by a proper sentence. Obviously anyone who sexually abuses a child deserves to be put away for a long time but as we know all to often that doesn’t happen.

Don't worry I completely understand what you meant @Peridot1
But also get where @Awwlookatmybabyspider is coming from. It's a good result compared to what a lot of other people who have suffered this kind of abuse get but really 5.5 years is nothing compared to the mental and emotional damage he's done to me. I think the biggest result is that he's now on the sex offenders register for life and will have very little opportunity to do this to anyone else.

@withpeaceandlove would if be ok to PM you and ask you a couple of questions about the process? I’m considering reporting one of my abusers.
No pressure, if it’s too much that’s ok x

Wonderful news. I hope your life becomes what you want it to be.

My best wishes.

Of course @Motherrunner1 no problem at all