WATCH: Mum of boy who was sexually abused issues warning

The woman, who is remaining anonymous to protect her son's identity, has decided to speak out about her experience to support the "Keep Switched On" campaign to warn of the dangers of online grooming.

It is in partnership with Greater Manchester It's Not Okay campaign Week of Action.

The awareness week runs from today, Monday, until Sunday and raises awareness of the steps parents can take to protect their children from sexual exploitation.

The mum recalls how her then 12-year-old son was targeted by a 23-year-old "friend of a friend" who groomed him when he was playing game online and also when he was playing football close to his home.

She said: “He had always been an outgoing, sociable and happy lad but we noticed he had got quieter and more withdrawn. He lost weight and shut himself away in his room all of the time.

“We were worried, but after speaking to friends with children the same age, we put it down to hormones and being a teenager – although we hadn’t experienced anything like this with our older son.

“After about six months he broke down one day, gave me a hug and told me he was gay.

"I hugged him back and told him I loved him and that it didn’t matter and for a short while everything went back to normal.

"But then things started going downhill again and he got more and more distant.”

After months of abuse, her son broke down and confided in one of his school teachers about the offences.

His mum added: “I was devastated but also in a strange way relieved that now I finally knew what was wrong and that we could do something about it and help him.

"All the clues suddenly fell into place and it made sense of so much of his behaviour.

“For example he used to go to sleep with his headphones in, saying he was listening to music on his phone to calm him.

"But actually it was the offender who wouldn’t let him switch off and wanted to listen in – even when he was sleeping - to have 24-hour control.

“The offender had told our son he didn’t need his family, he just needed him.

"He had singled him out at a time when he was vulnerable after experiencing some bullying and made him feel special – buying him gifts and making him feel important.

“Our son had first got know the offender while out playing football with his friends and older brother – the offender was related to one of his brother’s friends.

"So all the things you worry about such as stranger danger was irrelevant – this was a friend of a friend who had even been in our house once.

“He took over our son’s life, grooming him, being in constant contact online, buying him Xbox games, manipulating him, and segregating him from his friends and family to gain total control.

“He eventually started meeting him straight from school and would take him to local playing fields where he would sexually assault him.

"He also convinced him he was gay – whereas now he realises he isn’t.”

Police investigated as soon as the boy told them about his experiences and the offender was charged with grooming and sexual abuse.

He was found guilty in October and jailed for six years.

Three years on from the offences, the victim is on his way to getting his life back.

He has just sat his GCSE exams and has just enjoyed his school prom.

His mum said: “It’s lovely to see a smile back on his face.

"There’s still a question mark over how much this is going to affect him into the future but he is having counselling and life is getting more back to normal.

“However, I’m not sure if I will ever be able to get over the guilt and heartbreak I feel as a mother that I wasn’t able to protect him.

"I just hope our experiences may help to warn others.

“Whenever I see children and young people out now I’m wondering about them- where are their parents? Are the adults with them their parents or abusers? I see everything differently now.

“You also think your children are safe when they are in their bedrooms but that can be when they are at their most vulnerable.

"There are so many ways offenders can control them around the clock – be it via game consoles, Facebook, their phones and other social media.

“I would urge parents not to dismiss any radical changes in behaviour - you know your children, you must trust your instincts.

"Keep conversations about what they are doing, and who they are seeing, ongoing.

“Use all the security and parental settings available for phones, games and social media platforms.

"Don’t feel you are being too intrusive in their privacy – it is more important to protect them.”

The awareness week will see officers and partners hosting a series of events across Greater Manchester including information stalls, presentations in schools and visits to after school clubs.

Parents and carers are advised to regularly review security settings on their children’s phones and devices, talk to their child about what they are doing online and to encourage them to ask for help if they have any concerns. 

Detective Superintendent Joanne Rawlinson from Greater Manchester Police said: “We often think children are safer when they’re at home but sadly we’ve seen many cases of children and young people being groomed online when they’re under the same roof as their parents or carers.

“We don’t want any other family to have to go through such a horrific experience and are encouraging parents and carers to be aware of the risks and open up a conversation with their child about keeping safe online.

“Regularly review security settings on your children’s devices and look at the age restrictions given to apps and games. They’re put in place to protect children, and it is really important to adhere to them.

“Any app or game that enables children to speak to other people can be dangerous.

"Closely monitor and check who your child is speaking to – they may not be who they say they are.

“Finally encourage your child to speak out if they have any concerns about something they’ve seen online. We have specially trained officers that deal with this form of abuse in every borough across Greater Manchester. It’s never too late to get help.”

Deputy mayor for Policing and Crime, Bev Hughes said: “Child sexual exploitation takes many forms, but one of the major threats we’re currently facing is in cyber-space.

"At the press of the button a predator can contact a child and pretend to be someone they’re not- often another child- and start the grooming process that leads to exploitation and abuse. It’s all too easy.

“It’s our job to raise awareness of this, as parents we need to protect our children and educate them, so they can remain safe whilst online.

"By empowering children they will be able to recognise threats and avoid them – we can protect children by ensuring they are safe online.

"Preventing online child sexual exploitation continues to be a key priority for me and all partners across Greater Manchester, and we are working hard to ensure the right messages around safety are communicated.”

For more information about child sexual exploitation, steps you can take to help keep your children safe, and guidance on support available and reporting any concerns visit itsnotokay.co.uk.