Shocking Rise in Child on Child Sex Abuse a 'National Crisis'

Victims are increasingly being groomed by teenagers barely older than they are

Britain is facing a national crisis over an alarming rise in child-on-child sex abuse, a ­leading charity has warned.

One girl revealed she was raped aged 12 by a 14-year-old at the same school who escaped with just a court caution.

Now 16, the victim, who we cannot name for legal reasons, recalled: “When we first started going out he was really nice but then he changed."

How many times have I heard that? It appears teens are learning techniques from older groomers.

“He would control me by belittling my opinions and calling me fat and ugly.”

Her devastated mother warned other parents: “This abuse is real and it could be happening to your child.”

National crime statistics show 1,653 under-16s were convicted of sex offences in 2013-14 – up 269 on the year before.

The biggest rise is among 15-year-olds, with 358 guilty of abuse in 2013-14 compared with 279 the previous year.

But many more cases never make it to court. The NSPCC reports a staggering 4,200 children and young people under 18 were recorded by police as having committed a sex crime in 2013-14. It reckons a third of abused children were victims of other youngsters.

Barnardo’s says it is seeing more and more teenagers – mostly girls – expertly groomed by not much older youngsters.

Many abuse victims stay silent

The charity claims the scandal is being mostly overlooked as the focus is placed on adult grooming gangs such as those in Rochdale, Rotherham and Oxford.

Last night, Barnardo’s child sex expert Wendy Shepherd said: “This is a national crisis which we ignore at our peril.”

She added: “In most cases the victim believes the abuser is their girlfriend or boyfriend. In gangs in places like London and Manchester, initiation ceremonies involve sleeping with or raping girls, while young women are told they must have sex with gang members if they want to join.”

Wendy blames easy access to internet porn, highly sexual music lyrics and films such as 50 Shades of Grey.

Shockingly, Barnardo’s also reports cases of teenage boys as go-betweens to hook girls up with older men.

The charity’s Kevin Robinson said: “Kids are suspicious of people in their 30s and 40s approaching them.

“But if some 18 to 21-year-old comes up and asks them if they want to go to a party where they can get alcohol or drugs they are tempted.”

Is it possible to educate girls on boy's behavioural issues. I mean, if that really nice boy starts demeaning you, or controlling you, or even if he is just mean to someone else - like a waiter, get away from him. Niceness is not his real character, meanness is.

If someone is controlling you through your emotions, he does not love you and may be completely incapable of love.