Survivor Shares Determination To Move Forward With Life

A Leicester man abused by a foster parent has revealed he spent years as “a quivering wreck” before lawyers secured a settlement to help him move forward with his life.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was placed into care when he was a young child.  In the early 1980s he spent time with several foster families, including with a man who abused him on a regular basis over a period of months.

After returning to live with his parents social services remained involved in the then child’s care. The man recalls being physically and emotionally abused by his father as well as suffering sexual abuse at the hands of a family friend who was later convicted for the offences.

The assaults have had a lasting impact on the man, who still suffers psychologically.

Many years later, he felt strong enough to instruct specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate what happened to him.  The legal experts have now successfully secured the man a five-figure settlement from Leicestershire County Council which was responsible for his care as a child.

The sum will ensure the man, now in his 40s, can access the specialist treatment and therapies he requires to move forward with his life as best he can.

Expert Opinion

“Our client has struggled for decades to try and come to terms with what happened to him, and this is yet another example of the lasting impact that abuse can have.

He has been through a truly shocking ordeal but our client has bravely decided to share his story in the hope that it will stop others from suffering in silence.

While there is nothing we can do to change what happened, we are pleased to have been able to help him access the support he requires to try and overcome it as best he can.

It’s so important that survivors don’t feel alone and like they can’t come forward, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. They should feel safe in the knowledge that their case will be dealt with professionally and sensitively.”
Emma Crowther - Senior Associate Solicitor

The man, said: “For many years, I was what I would describe as a quivering wreck.  I didn’t want anybody to know about the abuse and I felt extreme shame and embarrassment about what happened to me.

“I have a very vivid memory and I remember being violently sick when I was first abused.  I continued to have flashbacks and nightmares for a long time, but I tried as much as I could to put these memories to the back of my mind and live my life day to day.

“Around 10 years ago, my mental health deteriorated further and I sought assistance but found that nothing helped me.  At this point, I knew I had to do something to try and get justice for what I had been through.  I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t protected and I would get extremely upset and angry about it.

“The abuse had a huge impact on my education as I struggled so much to engage and concentrate at school and I’ve found it incredibly difficult to hold down jobs for prolonged periods.  I also find relationships challenging as I struggle to trust people.

“Attempting to cope with the ordeal I have been through has been tough, but I was eventually diagnosed with PTSD which has helped me understand a lot about my symptoms.

“While I can’t turn back the clock and stop everything that happened to me, it is such a relief that I finally have some justice.  I really feel that this will help me obtain the closure and determination I need to move forward with my life.

“So many people who have been abused feel ashamed, like I did, but I hope that by sharing my experience it will give others the strength and courage to come forward and not suffer in silence.  In my case, it was definitely worth it.”

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