FORCED TO HAVE SEX WITH STRANGERS

Christina O'Connor, 32, lost her childhood after she was groomed, beaten and trafficked

- ANN CUSACK

Tearing across the grass, my ponytail streaming in the wind and my schoolbag slapping against my arm, I ran as fast as I could.

‘Quick, Tina!’ yelled my friend, as we fled from the school, down a lane.

It was 2005 and until recently I’d been a well-behaved child, never naughty or late. But then I’d started secondary school and become the target of merciless bullies, taunting me for my puppy fat.

By 13, I couldn’t take any more, and some days – like today – I’d go to registration in the morning before escaping across the school field with a friend. For a few months it was fun, hanging around Huddersfield with nobody noticing I was playing truant. Until one morning in 2005.

I was waiting for the bus with a friend, when three men in their 20s approached us offering us cigarettes. I took one and when they suggested meeting later, I was flattered at the attention.

That evening, after telling my parents I was meeting friends, me and my school friend sat in a car by the park, the men gave me more cigarettes and vodka, and I felt so grown up. A man called Pretos seemed to be the leader of the group and when I said my goodbyes at 7pm, he smiled and told me he’d see me tomorrow.

The next evening, I lied to my parents again and jumped into a car with Pretos and his friends, the music blaring as we swigged vodka and smoked cannabis.

It felt great having grown-up friends, yet I was always coming home late, drunk, and while they didn’t know who I’d been with, my parents were furious and it led to huge rows.