Sexual abuse compensation claims guide

Sexual abuse claims can be a very difficult subject to deal with, particularly for the survivors, who might prefer to speak only to a legal professional in confidence. This is why our panel of expert sexual abuse solicitors have put together this guide to help you understand what qualifies as sexual abuse, what you should do about it, and more.

Topics covered:

• What is sexual abuse?
• What help is available for those who have been abused?
• What amounts to sexual abuse or assault?
• What are the most common forms of sexual abuse?
• How do I know if I’ve suffered sexual abuse?
• Can I claim for historical sexual abuse?
• How can compensation help you?
• How much compensation could I get for historical sexual abuse?
• What can I claim for?
• How long do I have to claim?
• How many children have been sexually abused in the UK?

What is sexual abuse?

Sexual abuse is when a person makes the ‘victim’ commit a sexual act that they do not wish to, either through coercing or pressuring, or forcefully. Both children and adults may be subjected to sexual abuse, where, in all cases, it is never the survivor’s fault as many a times they are not aware that sexual abuse is occurring, until their rights have been violated, that is.

Sexual abuse may be both ‘contact’ and non-contact’, with examples including:

• Kissing, touching, and fondling in a sexual way
• Forcing an adult or child to engage in sexual activities
• Rape whether anal/vaginal/oral
• masturbation
• oral sex
• digital penetration
• Forcing a minor or adult to touch the perpetrator or someone else sexually
• Using the hands or any other body part or object to rape, sexually assault or penetrate the victim
• Exposing a child or adult to sexual acts, either themselves or via sexually explicit images or videos
• Showing pornography or sexually explicit images and videos to children or vulnerable adults
• Exposing or flashing of private parts
• Forcing a child or minor to participate in sexual activities, including sexually explicit online conversations

If you or anyone you know has experienced any of the above, then you may be able to receive compensation by bringing a sexual abuse claim against the perpetrator.

Understanding sexual abuse

Hundreds to thousands of children and adults are subjected to sexual abuse, both directly – where the victim knows that their rights are being violated – and indirectly, where the victim is being “set up” but does not know what is about to unfold until it is too late.

In both cases, it is very important to understand not only what qualifies as sexual abuse but also what sexual abuse is by nature. Identifying all the signs of sexual abuse at an early stage is critical, as it can increase your chances of winning a claim against the perpetrator, which includes compensation and the possibility of prosecution as well.

Our friendly, kind, and empathetic sexual abuse solicitors have dealt with a wide range of cases over the decades, and know exactly how to help victims understand their rights and what the next steps should be. Don’t choose silence when help and justice are only a phone call away.

You can read our extended guide on the different types of sexual abuse.

What help is available to those who have been abused?

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, know that there are many sources of help and information available, both online and offline. Naturally, the first thing to do is report it to the police or local authorities.

You can also contact the NSPCC, NHS, Childline, or any Sexual assault referral centres (SARC).

No matter what your current circumstances, speak to one of our sexual abuse solicitors for a free initial consultation. They will take your circumstances into complete confidentiality and after hearing your account, we will listen and advise you.

You are definitely not alone in this. To date, we have served justice to hundreds of families and individuals, getting them their due compensation.

Recovery from sexual abuse

As a victim and survivor of sexual abuse or assault, it can often take a while to recover from the harrowing experience. The healing process can be lengthy and, in some cases, even painful. Being subjected to sexual abuse of any kind can affect you both physically as well as mentally and psychologically. It may take support from multiple sources in order to help you rebuild your life as well as your ability to heal – such as from charities and trusts, family members and support groups.

While recovery from sexual abuse may seem difficult, especially in the initial stages, it is not impossible. One of the first things you must do is to open up and tell other people what you experienced, which would mainly include your friends, family members, and loved ones, as well as your solicitor, at some point. You need all the moral and psychological support you can get to recover, so it’s important that you try your best to open up and discuss your experience. Specific support groups exist for this purpose, including The Survivors Trust, a list of organisations compiled by the UK Government, SARSAS, NAPAC, and Survivors UK.

What amounts to sexual abuse or assault?

The legal definition of sexual abuse or assault across most UK cities and counties is when the perpetrator touches an individual in an inappropriate or sexual manner without that individual’s consent.

According to the Sexual Offences 2003 Act, sexual assault has been committed if any or all of the following happens:

• When someone is intentionally touched in a “wrong” or inappropriate manner without their knowledge or consent
• The touching is not casual but sexual in nature
• The person being violated does not consent to the sexual advances and/or touching
• The touching or physical contact may be through any part of the body or through an object
• The touching which, in this case, qualifies as sexual, wrongful or inappropriate may include:
  • Kissing, fondling, and touching someone’s genitals or private parts
  • Touching any part of the body in a sexual manner
  • Pressing up against another person for the purpose of sexual pleasure or gratification
  • The perpetrator forcing or coercing the victim to touch them in a sexual manner
  • Touching someone’s clothing in a pleasurable or sexual manner

The above list, however, is not a comprehensive one – if the action you may have experienced is not listed above but you felt it was wrong or violated your personal space, then that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t sexual abuse or assault that you experienced.

If you are in any doubt whatsoever whether your rights were violated but still believe that you did, in fact, experience sexual abuse or assault, please speak to one of our compassionate and understanding solicitors right away. Even if you’re not sure whether the incident or occurrences fall under the umbrella of sexual abuse, we still recommend getting in touch as they can advise you whether you have grounds for making a sexual abuse/assault claim, and will get you due compensation.

What are the most common forms of sexual abuse?

Sexual abuse may be categorised as ‘Contact’ and ‘Non-contact’ abuse, which may happen either in-person or online. Some of the most common forms include:

Contact abuse

• Sexually touching any part of the body, including the genitals or private areas, such as around the buttocks, crotch, legs, and breasts.
• Using a body part or object to rape or penetrate the victim.
• Forcing someone to take part in sexual activities, including but not limited to masturbation, oral sex, intercourse, and making them touch someone else.
• Any kind of sexual abuse, whether penetrative or non-penetrative where the victim feels uncomfortable, violated, or touched in a way not consented by them.
• Raping or forcing the victim to commit any kind of sexual act, whether it involves penetration or not

Non-contact abuse

• Exposing or ‘flashing’ the genitals or private areas to someone
• Showing pornography
• Exposing someone to sexual acts
• Forcing them to masturbate or watch someone else masturbate
• Forcing someone to make, view, or share sexually explicit photos and videos
• Forcing someone to take part in online sexual activities, such as online chats and conversations which are sexual or sexually abusive/exploitive in nature
• Often wrongly referred to “Revenge porn” (IBA)– sharing or threatening to share someone’s sexually explicit photos and/or videos online for the purpose of blackmailing them and/or causing them distress or embarrassment
• Stalking someone for the purpose of sexual exploitation, assault, harassment or rape, including human trafficking
• FGM – female genital mutilation, although less common, is a type of sexual violence where young girls, typically under the age of 15, are forced to have a part of their external genitalia either partially or completely removed for non-medical reasons
• Upskirting or ‘genital flashing’ – revealing private parts or genitals to the victim or asking/forcing them to do the same, either in-person or online

This list may not be fully comprehensive, although it may act as a reasonably good guide to identify common types of sexual abuse and/or assault. If you or any of your friends, loved ones, or associates has been subjected to such treatment, it is highly recommended that you consult one of our friendly and accommodating sexual abuse solicitors.

How do I know if I’ve suffered sexual abuse?

Sexual trauma is something both children and adults face in the UK, following an episode or multiple episodes of sexual harassment, assault, abuse, violence, or rape.

From mistrust with sexual partner to the inability to orgasm or severe emotional stress in situations where no stress would be induced due to external factors – may all point to the fact that you may have suffered sexual abuse, either as a child or as an adult. However, there may be many other signs and symptoms that can help identify whether you suffered from sexual abuse, either as a child or adult. With that said, many victims and survivors actively acknowledge and understand what has happened to them and, in most cases, have either a robust support system or seek the appropriate guidance to get back on the road to recovery.

If you are finding it difficult to live a “normal” life and struggling to cope with everyday situations due to a past experience where you sexually abused.

In any case, it’s important to identify specific signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, so that you can get the help you need and also move forward with a claim in order to get compensation for the trauma and suffering you endured.

Signs and symptoms of sexual abuse

While there may be general signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, which may be some of the following:

General signs & symptoms

• Avoiding or having a fear of specific places or people
• Lack of trust
• Distrust of authority
• Self-harming behaviours including physical harm through objects and contemplating suicide or having suicidal thoughts
• Changes in personal hygiene routine or habits
• Disturbances in sleep, including insomnia and nightmares
• Sudden and/or unusual changes in behaviour or personality (or both)
• Inexplicable or sudden changes in mood
• Episodes of anxiety and depression
• Unexplained discharge, pain, or burning sensation in the genitals
• Symptoms of UTI (urinary tract infection) or STI (sexually transmitted infection)

Please note that in the last symptom, STI or UTI may also occur due to other risk factors, including genetic history and may not necessarily be due to sexual abuse.

Signs & symptoms in young children

• A noticeable decline in communication or overall talking frequency
• Demonstrate sexualised behaviour
• Unexplained marks, bruises, or injuries
• Clinging to specific people and/or objects more than usual
• Losing interest in studies, school, friends, hobbies
• Distrust of authority
• Excessive curiosity around or desire to discuss sexual topics
• Showing an unusually high amount of knowledge around sexual topics or sexual acts
• Not wanting to be left alone anywhere, no matter what the place or occasion
• Behavioural changes such as becoming more rebellious or complaining more than usual
• Reluctant to change into fresh clothes or partake in any activity that requires changing clothes, such as after a shower or after playing indoors/outdoors

Signs & symptoms in teenagers

• A noticeable increase in risky or rebellious behaviour, including risky sexual behaviour
• Changes in personality
• Distrust of authority
• Unexplained marks, bruises, or injuries
• Significant changes in weight, including rapid weight loss or rapid weight gain
• Use of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicants
• Showing either little or no interest whatsoever in interests, hobbies, and activities previously considered fun and engaging
• Changes in social habits, including spending time with ‘new’ friends or ending friendships suddenly
• Changing in personal hygiene habits, including showering excessively or not at all

Signs & symptoms in adults including the elderly

• Feeling withdrawn from others, particularly specific people
• Inability to enjoy sex with a partner or spouse
• Distrust of authority
• Unexplained blood on clothing, linen, furniture, etc.
• Developing a fear of specific places or people (or both)
• Increased difficulty in walking or sitting for extended durations
• Unexplained changes in mood, behaviour, or personality
• Bruises or signs of physical trauma around the thighs, buttocks, and genitals
• Anxiety, fear or paranoia when using the restroom, particularly for bathing or showering

Specific signs & symptoms in women

• Discomfort or pain during intercourse
• Unable or difficulty in becoming or sustaining arousal during sex
• Lack of vaginal lubrication
• Bodily and vaginal aches, including numbness
• Feeling less sensually or sexually creative
• Low or sudden loss of libido
• Vaginismus – a medical condition where the muscles in the vagina clench or tense up, making penetration either difficult or impossible
• Sense of fear or annoyance when being touched
• Sense of distrust toward spouse or partner
• Clenched jaw, accompanied by shallow breathing, tight belly, and pelvic floor tension
• Menstrual, PMS, and/or menopausal issues
• General feeling of disgust towards sex
• Vaginal cysts, growths, and other reproductive issues

While it’s important to seek medical attention immediately after an episode of sexual abuse, including filing a report with the police, it’s just as important to speak to a sexual abuse solicitor who can guide you on what the next steps are, including a sexual abuse claim to win compensation and even criminal prosecution, provided there is enough evidence against the perpetrator.