X Factor’s Dalton Harris reveals he is scarred ‘head to toe’ from horrific abuse as a child
X FACTOR favourite Dalton Harris has revealed that he still has physical scars from the horrific abuse he suffered as a child.
Dalton admitted that the positive reaction to his performances on the ITV singing competition has made him feel as though he has "value", after growing up without "love or support" in Jamaica.
Dalton, who is being mentored by One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, has said that he was raised in poverty as one of at least 22 siblings - unaware of how many children his "promiscuous" dad fathered.
Recalling his childhood to , 24-year-old Dalton explained: "We never had electricity. Sometimes we couldn’t afford food. We brought water from the river."
The singer went on to detail some of the abuse that he suffered as a child, telling the publication: "There’s a cut above my right eyebrow and cuts around my ears and head but I grew my hair to hide them.
"There are more on my chest, arm, shoulder, back, thighs, legs and feet.
"I was punched so hard by a guy dating my mum I crashed through a window.
"I was told that I should walk into the road and kill myself - I was told I was ugly and illegitimate."
By 15, Dalton was homeless and he no longer has a relationship with his mum or dad - finding solace in singing, which ultimately paved his escape from poverty.
Winning £6,000 in a national talent show in 2011 helped Dalton pay rent and go to school, but he still struggled with the mental impact of his childhood abuse.
He shared: "All I got was hate, hurt, abuse. As a teen it got to me.
"When people tell you to go and kill yourself, after a couple of years you feel like you probably should."
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Thankfully, Dalton managed to get through the dark times and decided to apply for The X Factor after seeing a clip from the show on YouTube seven years ago.
He began to work on cruise ships and made his way over to the UK, where he has found success on the show and is now the favourite to win the competition.
However, Dalton has admitted that he wants a "family" more than any level of fame and success, adding: "I will be the best husband and dad ever one day."
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