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Original poster

I phoned the police

73 replies

Chocolatethief · 25/08/2019 04:54

When I was 12 I was sexually assaulted one night and tonight I phoned the police and reported it. They are going to contact me today hopefully to sort out a statement. I'm terrified about doing this and everything that comes after it. I'm scared they will press charges and scared they wont. What if it's happened to someone else and I didn't speak up quickly enough to stop it. It was 10 years ago, I cant believe I have done it. It was a sudden thing to do I didn't think about it I just did it. I'm so scared and kinda want to back out I dont want to go into details but I will have to.

OP posts:
Coffeeandchocolate9 · 25/08/2019 04:56

Oh love. Handheld from me Flowers

AmIThough · 25/08/2019 05:05

You're so brave Thanks

CucinaBreakfast · 25/08/2019 05:07

You've done the right thing. You'll never regret it, only not doing it. Hope you have support around you

SingingLily · 25/08/2019 05:07

And from me 💐.

It's a brave thing you've done - but it's the right one. You were only 12. Whoever it was, they need to be stopped.

Chin up.

barryfromclareisfit · 25/08/2019 05:11

You are brave to report.
Anything your abuser did is their responsibility, not yours.

Do you have a counsellor? You might need to arrange to have someone to talk to.

RocketRacoonsFurryBalls · 25/08/2019 05:11

You’re very brave.

Do you have any support?

Have you been to your GP to get counselling? I think this is important to help you through it.

Hugs.

TheMaddHugger · 25/08/2019 05:25

((((((Soft Hugs)))))) 🌺🌼🌸

Nofunkingworriesmate · 25/08/2019 05:29

Well done it’s never too late to protect other women and bring attackers to justice,
You are brave
You are not alone
You have gone the right thing
All the best for tomorrow let us know how it goes xxx

Nodnol · 25/08/2019 05:40

You are amazing. And so brave.

Mummyoflittledragon · 25/08/2019 05:45

It is never too late to report your abuse. You have been so brave. Flowers

Shockers · 25/08/2019 05:45

Ten years isn’t such a long time, and there’s a very good chance that this person could still be active. You have definitely done the right thing, both for yourself, and for potential future victims. I hope you get all the care and support you deserve. X

WelshMoth · 25/08/2019 05:56

Another handhold OP.
Braveheart. Keep doing this.

PersonaNonGarter · 25/08/2019 06:02

Well done. You are awesome. Flowers

ColdAndSad · 25/08/2019 06:03

Oh, well done, OP! You're so brave. Be proud of yourself.

Don't worry about what comes next. Take it all one day at a time. The police will take great care to make you feel supported and understood. I gave a video statement a few years ago, about the same sort of thing, and while it wasn't pleasant it was made much easier by the officers I spoke to, who were brilliantly kind and understanding.

Yes, you will have to go into details when you give your statement, but the police who you'll do this with will be very well trained and will help guide you. You'll be able to stop at any time, and take a break if you want. They'll be there to look after you. Their first priority will be ensuring you're safe. Try not to worry.

And stop worrying about whether you could have stopped any further assaults by speaking out sooner. You're not responsible for anything this horrible person did, to you or to anyone else. If they have assaulted anyone else, the blame for that lies completely on them.

Namaste6 · 25/08/2019 06:06

You are doing the right thing OP.
You are not alone. We will all be there with you.

Sending you a big hug 💐

SimplySteveRedux · 25/08/2019 07:13

What if it's happened to someone else and I didn't speak up quickly enough to stop it

It's something that you cannot think about, I've had the same thoughts over the years but the awesome crowd here helped me realise it's something I never had any control over. Look how many men who are sent down get out, then repeat the offence.

You do you, you're so very, very brave Thanks

FattyPeddledFuriously999 · 25/08/2019 08:13

Flowers well done xx

blackleggingsandatshirt · 25/08/2019 08:31

well done, stay strong and focussed, you are doing the right thing, hugs hun

Original poster
Chocolatethief · 25/08/2019 10:14

Thank you all I cant quite believe I've done it, think it will hit me when they ring. I try to think that I cant control his actions but if I have spoke out sooner or something

OP posts:
ColdAndSad · 25/08/2019 11:35

Please stop worrying about what might have been. It's not going to help, and you are not to blame for anything he has done, before or since. Just focus on what a brilliant, brave and wonderful thing you've done by reporting him.

Rachelover40 · 25/08/2019 12:50

Well done chocolatethief.
FlowersWine

Stuckandsad · 25/08/2019 12:55

You should be very proud of yourself, you deserve justice and you deserve to feel safe.

Yerbumsootthewindae · 25/08/2019 13:06

You are amazing, well done. You are not responsible for the actions of someone else so please don't feel bad about not reporting before now. Look after yourself, you're very brave Flowers

Hidingtonothing · 25/08/2019 13:12

One thing I've learned through my own experience is that you can't carry the weight of 'what if I could stopped this happening to others', you need and deserve every bit of your own mental and emotional energy to get through the healing process. You cannot take responsibility for anything he did to anyone else, that weight belongs to him alone and you will hinder your own recovery and make the prosecution process harder on yourself if you let yourself feel responsible. I'm sorry if I sound stern but you have nothing to feel guilty for and I felt like you needed to hear that in no uncertain terms Smile What you've done takes real bravery and you don't deserve to feel anything but proud about it Flowers

KUGA · 25/08/2019 13:27

Well done you.
You are doing the right thing for sure.
Also you could well be stopping someone else going through the same dreadful thing.
Air hugs.