Claim compensation for childhood sexual abuse

It's a tragic fact that not every child is provided with a safe and nurturing environment by family members or other adults in their lives.

If you experienced sexual abuse as a child, even if it was a long time ago, we can quickly tell you if you're entitled to compensation and help you make a claim. 

You can speak to our experienced solicitors in complete confidence and with no obligation. If you decide to proceed with a claim, we'll support you through the whole process. Please contact Sam or Rob for an initial consultation. 

No win, no fee

We offer no-win, no-fee arrangements and can be contacted in complete confidence on a 24/7 basis about a potential claim against your abuser.

Sexual abuse by a family member or friend

Most childhood sexual abuse takes place within the family, and the survivor often knows the identity of the parent, relative, friend or neighbour that sexually abuses them. The difficulty with sexual abuse within the family is that the survivor has no escape and no means of extricating themselves from the perpetrator. 

One victim spoke of her abuser “like a spider building a web” such was his increasing control of her.  Such is the frequency of this type of sexual abuse that in May 2019, a definition was added for Child Sexual Abuse within the family environment (also known as Intra-familial Child Sexual Abuse).

Sexual abuse which takes place within family environments often remains hidden. It is the most secretive and difficult type of abuse for children and young people to disclose. It may be particularly difficult to disclose abuse by a sibling.  Many children and young people do not recognise themselves as victims of sexual abuse - a child may not understand what is happening and may not even understand that it is wrong, especially as the perpetrator will seek to reduce the risk of disclosure by threatening them, telling them they will not be believed or holding them responsible for their own abuse.

Reporting childhood sexual abuse

Usually, it is many years after the abuse that the survivor tells anyone. The trigger point might occur when the survivor has her own children.  Reporting historical childhood abuse to the police brings its own problems, and some survivors feel guilty if the abuser is a father or close friend or relative.

Bringing a claim for sexual abuse compensation so many years later also brings its own unique problems. By then, all trace of the abuse may be gone and the perpetrator dead. There may not be a police investigation and the perpetrator may not have been convicted. Even if there is good evidence of the abuse the perpatrator it may not be possible to trace the perpetrator and he may not have any money to pay compensation.

Helping you overcome the hurdles of making a claim

At Robsonshaw we have considerable experience of claiming compensation for childhood sexual abuse against individuals long after the abuse has ceased.  We undertake property searches and work with enquiry agents to find the perpetrator's assets that he may have hidden or disposed off in an attempt to avoid paying compensation.