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Just a Child

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Just a Child

By: Sammy Woodhouse
Narrated by: Katy Sobey
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About this listen

The Sunday Times best seller.

Sammy Woodhouse was just 14 when she met Arshid Hussain. Ten years older, he promised to take care of her. Sammy thought she was in love, but in reality she was being groomed by a ringleader of Britain's most notorious child sex ring.

Just a Child tells the heartbreaking story of how a young girl from Rotherham was abused by her drug-dealing 'boyfriend', eventually giving birth to his baby, right under the nose of the very authorities who were meant to protect her. When reality dawned and Sammy realised she was one of countless vulnerable child victims - many of whom were trafficked around the north of England - she took it upon herself to blow the whistle and save others from a similar fate.

Thanks to Sammy's bravery, the gang was fully exposed, as well as the authorities that did little to help her. Her shocking account of how these events came to pass will enrage and sadden, but, above all, it will offer hope and show why this must never happen again.

©2018 Sammy Woodhouse (P)2018 Bonnier Publishing True Crime
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Thanks to this honest bares-all story I now have a much better understanding of what grooming is. It is completely shocking and absolutely something we all need to understand and counter. It is so insidious, and layered, and complex. Without Sammy having spoken so frankly, and shared so completely, I think I would have missed the nuances and underestimated the danger. Forewarned is forearmed.

Grooming explained.

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Childhood trauma is a hard subject to reflect on for many people, Sammy Woodhouse has done such an exceptional job of taking me on her journey of emotions and realisations.
Highly recommend to anyone interested in this genre.
Well narrated by Kate Sobey not once did I want to fall asleep at the sound of her voice :)

Well done

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Sammy Woodhouse, you are very brave and strong person! Thank you for sharing your story. I cried so many times listening to your life story and am shocked by the very people who are there to protect us have failed in their duty, especially Police. It’s a must listen book by all the parents.

Shocking and emotional

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The narrator was perfect for this book, easy to picture the young girl going through the traumatic childhood.
So glad Sammy speaks out and puts a spotlight on grooming and abuse, and the effects this abusers have on so many lives - including families.
She is an exceptional woman with very brave and unwavering parents.

A very sad story

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What an ore inspiring life journey to be told directly by the person whom had survived it.
I believe everyone should read or listen to this message as it can affect anyone and the more awareness the more people who will ensure this will never occur again.

Inner Strength

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Sammy you are an extremely strong and courageous woman.
Thank you for your story

This story has given me courage to face my past

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Her story needs to be heard. A very well written recap on this survivors story, it must have been hard to write but is well worth the listen

Great book!

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Wow, a story of Sammy's being groomed & abused through her teens and how she became a brave woman standing up for the rights of other young girls who are groomed & abused, her family fought for her the entire time and the very system & services that were meant to investigate & stop this sat on their collective backsides did nothing, while many more girls were continued to be groomed & abused. Thanks to Sammy's bravery in coming forward with the help of the reporter the story blew the lid on her story & eventually many other girls. Well done Sammy!

Powerful, emotional story of Sammy's abuse

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This story is narrated perfectly. I couldn't stop listening and would constantly think about it when I wasn't listening. The losses suffered due to CSE is outrageous and hearing her story is chilling.

Unbelievable emotional journey

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Thank you so much Sammy, what an amazing story. A movie should be made from this.

Amazing

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