NEW MP Natalie Fleet says she was “groomed” by an older man before becoming pregnant at 15.
The Labor MP said she still has a “huge impact” and has “weekly nightmares” about what happened to her when she was young.
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Natalie Frota said GB News that his family had been “struggling” for 23 years and at one point became homeless.
She said she was filled with “shame and guilt” after giving birth at a young age, but was “determined” to provide the best life for her daughter.
Now, the deputy said she was “prepared” before discovering she was pregnant.
“He was an older man. That was potentially, I mean, now we have labels like hygiene that we didn’t have back then,” she said.
“I didn’t know we were having unprotected sex. I was a child and that’s statutory rape.”
The mother of four advocates being “a voice for women who have children in less than ideal circumstances” after finding little help in her own situation.
She added: “There was nothing. There is no recognition of this happening in the UK.
“And the more research I did, I discovered that there are over 3,000 rape conceptions every year, but there are no charities to support these women.”
In her new role as Bolsover chair, she hopes to spark change and “break down barriers to opportunity”.
Of her newly elected role, Ms Fleet added: “I am a product of the last Labor government.
“It wasn’t a perfect government, but it changed my life and was transformative.
“And that’s why it’s worth doing a job where you can’t go to the store in your pajamas anymore, but where you still have a panic alarm in your bag, your own children are potentially at risk, that’s really horrible.
“But when it means you can improve the lives of other kids who aren’t as lucky, that’s amazing.”
How can you get help
Women’s Aid offers this advice to victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone close by.
- Contact charities for help, including Women’s Aid’s live chat helpline and services like SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarize yourself with the Silent Solution by reporting abuse without talking on the phone, instead dial “55”.
- Always keep some cash with you, including change for a pay phone or bus ticket.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try moving to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is an exit and access to a phone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid places where you could become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you could be locked in a closet or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, the SupportLine is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends weekdays during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid offers a live chat service – available on weekdays from 8am to 6pm and on weekends from 10am to 6pm.
You can also call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Hotline on 0808 2000 247.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
