It’s never too late: victims reporting incidents decades on

An increasing number of senior women are reporting child sexual abuse, often many decades after the incidents have occurred.

ABS statistics show that from 2010 to 2018, police recorded­ a 30 per cent increase in the reporting of sexual assault. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

An increasing number of senior women are reporting child sexual abuse, often many decades after the incidents have occurred.

From 2010 to 2018, police recorded­ a 30 per cent increase in the reporting of sexual assault, according­ to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research attributes the rise in overall reporting of sexual offences to an increase in historical reports.

At 70 years old, Janine Davenport (not her real name) has recently reported her uncle to South Australian police for abusing her repeatedly when she was aged 8 to 10, in the 1950s.

“It started with grooming behaviour­,” she said. “He was very nice to me, treated me like a best friend and bought me gifts.

“He used to come with us to the cricket and while my father was out batting, he would sit in Dad’s … car with me.” In the car, she said, he engaged in sexual acts, including sexually assaulting her.

“I found this quite sickening, awkward and uncomfortable, but I did not like it or understand what he was doing. I didn’t know what to do or say to make him stop.”

The abuse culminated in a traumat­ic attempted rape, where Janine’s uncle forced himself upon her and covered her mouth.

An undated picture of Janine Davenport as a child. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

“I never told my stepmother or anybody else for that matter,” she said. “I was frightened that I would get into trouble if I mentioned what he had done to me.”

Janine said the sexual abuse was completely life altering.

“He ruined my life,” she said. “I have never been able to trust anyone since. He is now 81 years old and in robust health. What I really want before I peg out is for him to be outed and publicly exposed.”

Janine recently reported her ordeal to police and engaged a lawyer. “He succeeded in getting away with his disgusting behaviour,” she said.

“My life continues to be impacted by the trauma that was inflicted upon me at such a vulnerable age. It is his time to face up to the consequences of his actions.”

Fern Harrington (not her real name) recently made extensive police reports in relation to a series of assaults she endured in the 1980s, from the ages of 8 to 17.

“The police treated me with dignity and respect,” she said. “It did not matter to them that it was 40 years ago, it was handled like it happened yesterday. I was never asked, ‘Why now?’, or, ‘Why have you waited?’ — it didn’t matter, it was irrelevant.”

Over three days, Fern made five separate detailed police statements. “The words that were ­coming from my mouth had never, ever been spoken before,” she said. “And every time I walked out of the police station, I was lighter, I was less fearful, I had less shame.”

The investigating officer assigned­ to her cases has already been in touch with up­dates­. “I am excited — to finally do something, to seek the justice that I deserve, and for these scum to know that they didn’t get away with it.”

Eleanor Mansfield (not her real name), 84, is also still suffering the negative effects of abuse she experienc­ed in the 1940s, aged 9. The perpetrator sexually assaulte­d her while she was sitting on his lap. “It was painful, and I said: ‘What are you doing?’,” she said.

“He replied: ‘This is how men and women make babies.’ I slid off his hairy knees. That event is as vivid to me today as it was all those years ago.” Eleanor said the incid­ent set up a chain of negative events that diminished her life.

“I have experienced brain-­glazing anxiety in new situations,” she said. “No matter what my achievements, I have always felt worthless. It has caused me embarras­s­ment and shame.”

Eleanor has become a strong advocate for preventive measures and is working to shift attitudes. “Children must be educated about their bodies and sexuality openly and naturally, just as they are taught hygiene and diet at an early age,” she said.

“If abuse should occur, it is ­imperative the reporting is taken seriously and fully investigated.”

A PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis of 17,533 de-identified historical­ sex abuse claims lodged with Victims Services NSW attributed increased reporting to a shift in societal attitudes in recent years.

“There are also likely to be changes in reporting patterns in the future, due to changes in societal­ attitudes and the royal commission, with an increased number of historical cases of child sexual abuse being reported and an increase in the number of child sexual abuse reported to the police,’’ the report says.

“The work of the royal commission is enabling some victims to feel supported enough to raise matters which they have kept ­secret for many decades.”

If you need support, call Lifeline on 131 114 or 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.