The BBC soap EastEnders has been praised for raising awareness in their most recent plotline around the emotive issue of female genital mutilation (FGM). Famous for never shying away from communicating difficult and important issues, the soap focuses this delicate subject around the storyline of the character Mila Marwa. As a child, Mila underwent the horrifying procedure of FGM herself, and becomes fearful of the same thing happening to her younger sister, confronting her mother on her true reasons for sending her sister away to Africa.
Over the past few weeks, more allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct in the entertainment industry have surfaced. Most notably, in relation to Noel Clarke, a well-known actor, producer, screenwriter and director.
All parents and guardians hope that school is a place where their children are safe and able to develop academically, emotionally and socially. It is expected that their safety is a given. Regrettably, and largely down to the initiative of a 22-year-old former student in setting up the ‘Everyone’s Invited’ website, it has recently come to light that in some schools a 'rape culture' exists, so that these schools are not safe places at all.
If you have been abused by a family member or friend, the only options open to you may be to pursue a claim directly against your abuser, as opposed to an organisation or establishment.
We have recently been instructed by a person who alleges they were a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a deceased priest Reverend Canon William James ‘Jim’ Hawthorne, a former vicar of the Church of England.
Women on their own who are hotel guests, or indeed women employed to provide room service – can be vulnerable to sexual predators.
Sadly, the Coronavirus pandemic has caused countless families onto the mercies of benefits such as Universal Credit and other benefits with the possibility of thousands more following before the crisis is over.
We have been instructed by a victim who was sexually abused as a child whilst a resident at St Vincent’s Orphanage in Newcastle.
We have recently been instructed by a victim of Keith Hartle (deceased) who was a National Boating Officer in the Nautical Training Corps (‘NTC’). Our client was assaulted by Hartle over many years in the 1990’s.
We have recently been instructed by a victim of a former music teacher, Paul Johnson who was sexually assaulted by him over a period of many years.
