Predatory podcast: Former Neighbours star Madeleine West reveals child sex abuse secrets
The former Neighbours and Underbelly actor is revealing a deeply personal part of her life as part of a mission to help other Aussies. Listen to the podcast. Warning: Graphic
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Exclusive: She is one of Australia’s most recognised faces – an actor, author and a mother of six.
But for more than three decades Madeleine West has been harbouring a dark secret.
She was sexually abused as a young child for years by a “monster” who lived in the same town.
He assaulted her “many, many times”, for some periods it was a daily occurrence.
“I was the victim of aggravated sex abuse from the age of five to 10,” Ms West said.
And she fears she was not the only one.
“I’m now seeking justice,” she said.
In an emotional Instagram post on Sunday, Ms West revealed she changed her name in a bid to escape her traumatic past.
“I was born Melanie Ann,” Ms West wrote.
“For most of my life I’ve hated her…. I blamed her for some truly despicable things that happened to her — to me — when I was tiny.
“Why? Because little Melanie was told it was her fault. And I believed it.
“I ran from Melanie as hard and as fast and as far as I could …so far I even changed my name.”
For legal reasons, the Neighbours and Underbelly actor cannot reveal more detail about the attacks.
But, in breaking her silence for the first time, she hoped her story might encourage others to speak out and help put abusers behind bars.
Watch Madeleine and Gary’s exclusive video interview above.
LISTEN TO EPISODE 1 OF THE PODCAST BELOW:
“I don’t feel great about exposing this publicly, but I don’t want to feed into the conspiracy of silence,” the 42-year-old said.
“Anyone out there who is posting, watching or hurting a child, your time is up.
“The wheel is turning.
“He thought he had got away with it. I thought he had got away with it.
“I carried a burden I don’t carry anymore.”
Ms West has joined forces with former NSW Detective Gary Jubelin in a new eight-part podcast called Predatory in which they call for a national public child sex register, as well as changes to laws to fairly compensate victims.
They also speak with child sex crime detectives and explore how the face of predators and paedophiles has changed, especially when it comes to accessing children online.
Their aim is to empower Australian parents with the tools they need to spot predatory behaviour and keep their kids safe.
Mr Jubelin said the key to eliminating the harm was to remove the opportunity for paedophiles and sex offenders to target children.
“To fight any type of crime you have got to create a safe environment where crime can’t flourish,” Mr Jubelin said.
Ms West said parents need to be aware that most child abusers are not the “weirdos” people like to imagine, and nor was her attacker.
She said in nine out of 10 cases, the abuser is either a family member, friend or trusted person in the community. They’re often respected.
She said hers was not a family member.
“We comfort ourselves with the perception that paedophiles are weirdos and they are not,” Ms West said.
“They insidiously work their way into your life.
“We believe what they say is true even when our instincts are screaming the opposite.”
She said in the conversations that followed the end of her abuse which happened after she was better able to express herself at the age of 10, there was a “combination of disbelief and disempowerment”.
“The simple solution was avoidance,” Ms West said.
“Paedophiles are exceptionally calculating and they will get what they want.
“People consistently turn the other way.”
As a mother of six, aged seven to 17, Ms West is hyper vigilant; ever present at sports games, parties and playground trips. She won’t allow her children to go for sleepovers until the age of 10, and then only after she has got to know the parents well.
She has also taught herself to ‘game’ to better understand what’s going on behind the screens, because she knows that paedophiles are accessing kids through technology.
MORE PODCAST EPISODES BELOW:
Ms West said she wishes she had reported her abuser earlier, as it has brought her some peace.
But there is no statute of limitation against child sex offences, so it is never too late.
“This monster ruined my life,” Ms West said.
“I reached a point where there were so many things that were unacceptable in my life stopping me moving forward and having a healthy life.”
Ms West says the idea that perpetrators could still be out there offending made her “want to do something”.
“People may look at me who’s been successful and had a lucky life and six beautiful kids but this horrible thing happened to me.
“I’ve come out the other side, yes a survivor but happy to own the title of victim.
“Justice can be achieved. It was never, and never will be, your fault, you are not to blame.”
For more details about the Predatory podcast, go to predatory.com.au
If you have a story to tell, email crimeinvestigations@news.com.au
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