A SURVIVOR of sexual grooming has spoken out to warn others of the dangers and praise Coronation Street over their hard-hitting Bethany Platt storyline.
Lucy, who spoke on This Morning under anonymity, revealed how a much older man approached her when she was just ten and began grooming her for a sexual relationship.
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Lucy spoke under condition of anonymity as she opened up about the grooming and abuse she survived
She met the man through social media as he began chatting to her about school and her life, before it took a terrifying turn when she was just 12 and he began sexually abusing her.
"He started to manipulate me and began asking for images and at the time I thought it was normal because at the time I didn't know it was normal to do," she said.
"He convinced me that actually I should be sending these pictures to him and it would make him be my friend even more."
"He told me that if anyone found out they would be very cross with me, so he put the onus on me that actually I was in the wrong."
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Ruth was moved by Lucy's bravery in talking about what she went through
Shockingly Lucy also revealed how despite police intervention and her bravely reporting her abuser to the authorities, he managed to creep his way back into her life when the first prosecution failed.
The abuse was finally stopped when she was 16 after he was jailed but even that didn't stop him.
"Even when I went to the police he was still messaging me saying 'when I get out of prison we would get married," she said.
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Presenter Ruth Langsford spoke to Lucy about her experiences
She said: "Meeting with the actors, they were really keen to play the parts accurately to give survivors of sexual abuse something to watch and think that it is realistic.
"And for people to watch and think if this is happening to me or someone I know then it's not OK."
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The plot has seen Nathan target Bethany for sinister purposes
She gave her advice to others who were in the same situation, saying: "Tell someone, tell someone you trust or phone Childline.
"Even if you're not convinced it's abuse, you need to tell somebody. When you're in the situation you can't recognise it but you need to know it's not OK."
Emily Cherry from the NSPCC added: "It's really hard for young people to recognise the signs of when they're being groomed and exploited.
"No matter who is doing this, no matter how long ago, come forward because there is support."
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