Charlie Webster opens up about childhood sexual abuse during emotional appearance on This Morning
The Sky presenter has appeared on the show to raise awareness and encourage others to come forward
CHARLIE Webster has opened up about her childhood sexual abuse in an emotional interview on This Morning.
The TV star spoke to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about her abuser and admitted she wanted to help others find the courage to speak out.
Charlie told them: “It starts with manipulation, it’s a grooming process.
“I completely trusted my abuser and so did my family.
“Your hopes are pinned on that person.”
Phillip then said, “He stood on the finishing line with your mum?”
Charlie quickly confirmed he did, saying her abuser befriended her family.
Holly appeared to become distressed at certain points and later said to Charlie: “How do we protect our children?”
Charlie explained: “First and foremost, victims need to be believed.
“We don’t victim blame no matter what gender they are
“Education is so important, I didn’t realise the first time around.”
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Charlie previously opened up about the abuse in 2014.
She said: I got quite close to the running coach because you do.
“He abused the fact that I was an innocent person who wanted his support and his compassion and his care as my running coach.”
The perpetrator was later jailed for 10 years and was put on the sex offenders register for life.
TV star Charlie continued to tell BBC Radio 5Live: “You should never touch a young girl anyway, but he very, very manipulatively and very slowly sexually assaulted me.”
“Not one time in my head did I think 'I'm being sexually assaulted', because if I did, I would have done something about it.
“I didn't understand. I really lacked confidence. I didn't know what he was doing was wrong.”
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