A mother has told of her young daughter’s trauma after waiting 18 months for her father to be convicted of child sex abuse – as a report finds cases take years to complete.
Erin, not her real name, discovered her ex-husband had been sexually abusing her then-seven-year-old daughter Ivy, a pseudonym, for at least four years in the spring of 2021.
He was eventually jailed for 17 years in September 2022 – but the year and a half it took to get there left the family in limbo, looking over their shoulders as he was free to live his life.
Erin speaks for the first time, exclusively to Sky News, as a new report brings together all the latest available child sexual abuse data is made public.
The Child Sexual Abuse Expertise Center (CSA Centre) found in 2021/2022:
• It took an average of 614 days from a child sexual abuse report to a court finding
• 15% increase in recorded cases in England and Wales
• For the first time, the police recorded more than 100,000 offenses (103,055)
• Sexual assault referral centres, which offer medical and forensic assistance to victims, had initial contact with 8,213 children last year – a 13% increase over the previous year.
Survey figures also show that at least one in 10 children in England and Wales are sexually abused before the age of 16, so the majority of cases go unreported.
One reason could be the long delays in the court system.
What he asked her to do
Erin told Sky News: “When he told me, it all came crashing down, everything, the things he, they, were doing together, sleeping in no pyjamas, in the same bed, things he had asked her to do. , things he had done to her, inappropriate touching and it all came out in a big rush.”
The horrified mother immediately told police and her ex-husband, Ivy’s father, was arrested – with officers subsequently finding indecent images of other children’s children on his computer dating back 14 years, before the former couple met.
Her daughter had to undergo a forensic examination at a rape center conducted by a male doctor.
Erin said: “That was the hardest part, she looked so tiny, she had to take off all her clothes and wrap herself up under this adult-sized dress.
“The doctor, I’m sure he was great, but he was very tall and had a very strong accent, she was scared. She had to lie there and be examined in her privates, that was the worst part.”
Ivy’s father, who Erin said was a good dad and had a solid job, was released on bail after three months and then given a restraining order so he can’t go near her home or school.
But even though Erin knew she had a new car, police wouldn’t tell her what it was or where she lived. For a year and a half – until she was prosecuted – she was constantly looking over her shoulder trying to protect Ivy.
They let someone dangerous to children roam free
Detectives went silent after initial interviews, and Erin said they didn’t return her calls when she had questions, which made her feel “like time stood still.” He even made sure Ivy’s passport wasn’t in the house in case he showed up.
He was free to live and work before he was charged – then at some point, he didn’t go to a police interview and went on the run.
“In my opinion, they let someone, a danger to children, walk around with their freedom unchallenged for 18 months,” he said.
“They kept saying, ‘Well, you should be grateful, that’s too fast, you should be grateful.’
Eventually, Ivy’s father pleaded guilty and was imprisoned for 17 years.
Erin said she believes he pleaded guilty, so his crimes were not revealed in court in front of his family. A trial would have prolonged the case even further.
Ian Dean, director of the Child Sexual Abuse Expertise Centre
“Delays in court are completely unacceptable”
Ian Dean, director of the CSA Centre, told Sky News: “It is completely unacceptable that some children are waiting up to two years to hear the outcome of their court case.
“For any victim of sexual abuse this wait would be significant, for a child it is huge.
“I’m really concerned that delays of this magnitude will put people off.”
The CSA Center is pushing the government to carry out a regular prevalence survey to find out how many children are being sexually abused, as they believe the available data is only the tip of the iceberg.
She also calls for more training for social workers, as many lack formal training to recognize when child sexual abuse may be taking place.
Ian Critchley, head of child protection for the National Council of Police Chiefs, told Sky News that the full impact of the COVID restrictions on child abuse was also a major concern and “may take years to fully understand”.
He said police are investing in training and resources for those working in the field and are also trying to improve their data collection so trends are more easily understood.
He added: “The fight against child sexual abuse will never stop and this latest evidence reinforces that all of us in society must focus our efforts on these horrific crimes, which can cause lifelong harm to children.”
Protection Secretary Sarah Dines told Sky News: “Child sexual abuse is a horrific, devastating crime that targets the most vulnerable in our society and this Government is determined to tackle it.
“I welcome this report produced by the Home Office-funded Center of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, which recognizes improvements in identification and reporting.
“However, the prevalence of these appalling crimes is deeply concerning and we will leave no stone unturned in pursuing offenders and protecting children.
“We are putting the needs of victims at the heart of this project, including investing £477 million over three years to reduce waiting times for victims in the courts.”
Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.
Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk.