TW: Childhood Sexual Abuse; thinking of taking legal action many years later

[Toolongago]

TW: Childhood Sexual Abuse

Has anyone who was sexually abused in childhood taken successful legal action?

It’s been nearly 40 years and I’m wondering if I can take legal action against the local council who placed a paedophile to live with my family. He sexually abused both me and my younger brother from ages 6-9.

My parents took lodgers from a scheme that paid more because the people they placed had either physical or other disabilities. I’ve done nothing for years as I didn’t know if my younger brother remembered what happened. I didn’t want to dredge things up publicly if he didn’t, but I’ve recently discovered that he does remember.

If you or someone you know has taken legal action in a similar situation, what has been the outcome?

Is there compensation for victims?

Is the process likely to make our lives worse?

There is no statute of limitations for sexual abuse so you could take criminal action against the perpetrator (assuming they are still alive). Any action against the Council, however, would I imagine (I am no lawyer) be a civil matter and that could cost a fortune and take years.

So I’d be focusing less on the council and more on the abusers and frankly, your parents. I would report the abuse, yes, and allow a criminal case to proceed if sufficient evidence. If nothing else, these people almost certainly have abused others in the intervening years and your report could help add to the evidence against them.

Really though it was your parents’ responsibility to keep you safe. I have children that age and no way in hell I’d be taking in unhoused vulnerable lodgers and certainly not allowing them unsupervised contact with my children. No way in hell. That’s not to say it absolves the council of responsibility entirely, but unless the scheme is continuing today, I don’t think it would have the impact you hope it would. I think your energy and anger should be directed where it can help people if you want to pursue this legally.

I’m very sorry this happened to you and your brother and I do think it’s very brave to consider speaking up.