Samantha’s child-sex battle gathers pace

A HARD-HITTING internet campaign has been launched by Samantha Roberts, the Oldham girl raped at the age of 12.

Samantha, now 18, was raped and attacked at a house in Chadderton and bravely waived her right to anonymity to reveal her ordeal to the Chronicle and call for tougher sentences for child sex offenders.

With the help of fiancé Steven Walker, she has launched an E-petition and an emotive Facebook page named You Have Not Defeated Me.

On the page she writes a frank message to her rapist, Shakil Chowdhury, who acted as the ringleader and invited his friends to join in the sick circle of depravity in 2006.

In the open letter, ‘Message To A Monster’, she writes: “I could not look at my body, and hated to recognise myself because I reminded myself of you.

“You beat me, bit me, mocked me and made me hate myself so much I wanted to die, and at first I thought I deserved it. But our long-term relationship is over, you do not deserve me anymore.”

Chowdhury was sentenced to six years in prison and served only three years in custody and three on licence. Three other men are still to be brought to justice.

The couple have added a link to an E-petition they hope will bring about change.

They want to see the notion of “ostensible consent” abolished in relation to cases with young victims.

Current laws mean children under 13 cannot legally give consent to sexual acts.

The notion of ostensible consent — an offender’s ‘perception’ that the victim has consented — can be used in court as a mitigating factor.

Steven and Samantha see such an argument in cases of children under 16 as “abhorrent and archaic”.

He said: “The message is very powerful, but that’s what it needs. Since we appeared in the Chronicle we have been on television, radio and have been contacted by national papers — it’s really taken off.

“It has taken us by surprise but it is all positive. We’re excited about the future and where this could take us.

“Now we want to change the law and get tougher sentencing, but for that we will need the support of the public.”

The pair are now contacting local MPs Michael Meacher and Debbie Abrahams in the hope they will back their fight.

They also await a reply from the letter sent to Prime Minister David Cameron, calling for change.

Visit www.facebook.com/youhavenotdefeatedme to keep up with the campaign and pledge support at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34149.


MESSAGE TO A MONSTER
You have not defeated me.

For years I served your sentence with you, and longer.

I could not look at my body, and hated to recognise myself because I reminded myself of you.

You beat me, bit me, mocked me and made me hate myself so much I wanted to die, and at first I thought I deserved it.

But, our long-term relationship is over, you do not deserve me anymore.

I will experience all my life has to offer and achieve as much as I can in this lifetime, but for me not for you.

I am free from the prison you built for me, and I will fight with every breath in my body to stop people like you hurting any other children.

You will live with the shame of your crimes, and if I ever get the opportunity to have you serve the time you really deserved, then believe me, you will serve it.


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