Abuse Survivors Blog

Elton John’s classic ‘Sorry seems to be the hardest word’ is none more true in the ambit of sexual assault compensation claims than in any other context.

In representing victims and survivors of sexual assault, whether abused as children or sexually assaulted in adult life, I hear time and time again, the request for an apology. Often it is the refusal or the withholding of an apology that causes a victim or survivor to instigate a legal claim against those accountable. A lot of money could be saved by those on the receiving end of compensation claims arising from sexual assault, if only the relevant person or organisation had done the decent thing and offered a heartfelt apology in the first instance.

A compensation scheme thought to be unprecedented in British sport has been set up to provide victims of sexual abuse with financial redress.

This firm has represented a former chorister in a civil action against the Diocese of Chelmsford for sexual abuse he suffered as a child.

“Mr X” has successfully obtained a substantial out-of-court settlement after bringing a compensation claim for serious psychiatric harm he suffered as a child following sexual abuse by his parish priest.  

Where do I start?

You need to speak to a specialist solicitor. You may feel hesitant or embarrassed to discuss your claim but if you have decided to speak to a specialist firm, you will be dealt with with great sensitivity, and should be afforded the highest level of care, attention and confidentiality.

Child sex tourism is tourism for the purpose of engaging in the prostitution of children, which is commercially facilitated child sex abuse .

It is the sexual exploitation of children by people who travel from their home district, geographical region, or country in order to have sexual contact with children.

Whilst child abuse can be sexual, physical, emotional and neglect, for the purpose of this article we focus on sexual child abuse and exploitation.

If you are a victim of sexual abuse and sexual assaults (male, female, young or old) speaking for the first time is hard enough.

Making the decision to talk about what happened to you is often the biggest challenge a victim can face.

Grooming is often the precursor to sexual abuse. It is also one of the common features of the most serious and protracted sexual abuse.

The perpetrator goes to great lengths to gain the trust, confidence and emotional ‘buy in’ of a victim (and their family) such that they are able to manipulate them, blackmail and brainwash them into believing that either the abuse is tolerable, indeed acceptable, or that they have no power or authority to resist it.

Two of Emmott Snell Solicitor’s clients (referred to in this article as Mr X and Mr Y to protect their identities) have successfully obtained substantial out of court settlements after bringing compensation claims against Hampshire County Council and Surrey County Council for sexual assaults they suffered whilst placed at children’s homes.  

Sexual Abuse Referral Centres (SARCs) are a special service which provide help to victims of sexual assault and abuse.

They provide care for victims of both recent and non-recent assault, regardless of whether the victim has reported the assault to the police or not.