A woman who says she was one of four victims of an alleged child sex abuser from Gloucestershire says changes must be made to the way such matters are dealt with.
[Read about Andy Woodward, ex Footballer (and Lancashire cop) who was investigated for rape!]
The woman, who did not want to be identified, claimed to have been abused between the age of six and ten by late Tewkesbury man James Guthrie.
She reported the matter to Gloucestershire police but it never charged him in relation to the alleged offences. She says this was because of its poor handling of the case and not because her claim was untrue.
A woman who says she was one of four victims of an alleged child sex abuser from Gloucestershire says changes must be made to the way such matters are dealt with.
The woman, who did not want to be identified, claimed to have been abused between the age of six and ten by late Tewkesbury man James Guthrie.
She reported the matter to Gloucestershire police but it never charged him in relation to the alleged offences. She says this was because of its poor handling of the case and not because her claim was untrue.
The woman has complained about the way it handled the situation to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and it is now investigating.
While the woman described her dealings with the police as “horrific”, she does not want that to stop child sex abuse victims – such as those involved in the football coaching scandal – coming forward.
But she wants measures to be put in place, by organisations such as the police that deal with the complaints, to make it easier for the victims.
She said: “What meets you on the other side is absolutely appalling. If they encourage people to come forward, they need to have things in place.
“The process for me has been horrific.”
She said it been tough enough to come forward as an adult and report the abuse she suffered as a child but then to have problems dealing with the police made it even harder.
Calling for the police to have officers trained to deal with such cases and support mechanisms for the victims, she added: “People should come forward but organisations need these things in place.
“Let’s acknowledge the problem and do it better so what meets victims on the other side is what they deserve.”
Former soldier Guthrie died from a deep vein thrombosis in August 2012, aged 52.
In response to Gloucestershire Live’s request for a comment about his alleged victim’s complaint, an IPCC spokeswoman said: “We have been investigating the actions of three Gloucestershire Constabulary officers. Two of those officers, one of whom since retired, were being investigated in relation to their handling of a complaint received by the force.
“A third officer, also since retired, was being investigated for alleged dishonesty in relation to that complaint. The investigation report is in the process of being finalised.”
A Gloucestershire police spokesman said: “It would not be appropriate to comment when the IPCC investigation is on going.”
Source http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/alleged-child-sex-abuse-victim-tells-of-8216-horrific-8217-dealings-with-gloucestershire-police/story-29952976-detail/story.html#iss26VmdWuuJIeJD.99
I reported information about a football coach in 2013 who had allegations of child sexual abuse. I was told by 2 of his neighbours. The first day I met this man when I was 15 he showed me porngraphy and appeared to get off asking me questions about mastrubation. He was in his 30’s. He made sexual comments about his 13 year old daughter, and then more sexual remarks about a 9 year old girl. He was not reported to Social Services until 2017 by a DI, but Gloucestershire Police did not investigate properly.
Another Primary School teacher who was involved coaching childrens football asked me back to his house when I was a teenager after drinking with him for two hours (grooming). He asked me to go away on holiday with him and his friend and that he called a tour. It was not a tour. He expressed a sickening act of paraphilla, and despite being a primary school teacher would watch racist comedians, not sure how you can be a bigoted educator, just a bigot that likes being around kids (no sustained relationships in the time I knew him). He is still involved coaching childrens football although retired. He’s a lovely bloke on the surface. Monsters don’t get to kids, nice men do!
They tried to manipulate the Police by making false claims against myself. These people are very manipulative.
Sorry to hear they were not much help to me years ago
I am so saddened by your experiences … I have been through the legal process myself, just last year, but thankfully my experience was totally different. Even the time I spent in court was positive, for me it was so important to find my voice and to find justice. I found both and my perpetrator is now serving 18 years!! I am so sorry that you will never have this. From a fellow survivor xxx