Product Description

Stuart just wanted his father to love him, but he was made to believe he was too naughty to be loved. Finally David Howarth was sent to prison for abusing Stuart's young sisters. Nobody knew the truth about Stuart's abuse until one fateful day when his father tried it again and Stuart fought back in the only way he knew how. Stuart Howarth spent the first thirty years of his life in mental and physical hell. After years of emotional torment and despair, at the age of 32 Stuart felt an overwhelming urge to see his father (who he now knows was actually his stepfather), then living in Wales. Seeking reconciliation, Stuart was only to be met by the same old abusive man. The rage, pain and confusion boiled over in Stuart and he fought back, killing his stepfather. When Stuart's story came to light in the courtroom, it was so terrible that he received the minimum possible sentence for his crime and only served thirteen months in Strangeways prison in Manchester. But while in prison, the cruel system compounded the crimes of his evil abuser, and he suffered at the hands of the prison guards. What happened to him during those months led to him suing the Home Office and Strangeways on his release and winning his case. This is the story of a sweet-natured boy who grew into a brave young man and refused to allow himself to be a victim any longer.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28442 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 306 pages

Review
'Truly moving.' Fern Britten, This Morning

From the Author
Child Abuse has become a part of everyday life because we
choose to ignore it - it is too nasty to even consider that it happens.

The truth is, it happens and in order to learn we must first of all listen
to survivors stories. Not only will it educate society, it will heal the
survivor.

Every mother and father has a duty to protect and educate their children so
that they can feel safe in todays world.

Survivors - every day we are sad, down, lonely, shameful, guilty, depressed
or suicidal - the abuser wins!

Break free look forward not back and be sure in your heart that you are
never alone.

My love, thoughts and prayers are with the still suffering and may your God
be with you x

From the Back Cover
He thought he was too naughty to be loved.

Stuart just wanted his step-father to love him, but he was made to believe
that he was too naughty to be loved. After years of abusing Stuart's young
sisters, David Howarth was sent to prison.

Nobody knew the truth about Stuart's abuse until one fateful day when his
step-father tried it again and Stuart fought back in the only way he
could.

Customer Reviews

read this book
I read this book from cover to cover pretty much in one go. The strength and courage of the author shines through, in the way be dealt with his abuse and then took on the might of the prison service when he was further abused in prison. It should be compulsory reading for all those training to be social workers, magistrates, teachers and anyone else who has a role in child protection. it isnt an easy read, but it a compelling read. And you will cry as you read it.

We can recover
I first started to write this book whilst in prison and it helped me to cope through all those terrible times. In the main, the book acted as a kind of therapy and helped me to release my inner most thoughts and emotions locked away for so many years.

This assisted me greatly as I would have to expose my hurt and pain for the very first time and also to men, whom I was so afraid. The perpetrators of my abuse were all male so talking to a male Psychiatrist would not be easy. Further, my legal team had expressed concern about me holding back on memories and I thought if I could write it down before I said it, this would make it easier. Suicide always remained an option!

The psychiatrists who assessed me wanted to know every intricate detail and I often wondered whether or not they were getting some kind of kick out of it. I know today that they weren't, but over the years my mind had become twisted with false perceptions and projected fears.

The purpose of the book is to educate the world and to give you an insight into some peoples terrible and horrendous realities. My hope is that much good will come from it and being where I have, I have to try.

It is possible for us all to recover but it is no easy process. It takes time, a need to be honest and in a place of trust. Quite often people who have suffered similar events, with whom you can identify, but have also made a full recovery themselves, is from my experience the best place to start.

I hope that this book will give you the courage to act as we all have our part to play. It is often the smallest of things that can make the greatest changes. In the time it has taken you to read this piece thousands of children have been hurt across the world and many adults are suffering in pain and silence.

Please keep a look out for my next book 'Finding Stuart', which tells of my journey to find out who I really am and how I began and continue the recovery process.

My love, thoughts and prayers are with the still suffering.

A BOOK OF COURAGE AND INSPIRATION
Can I review this book before it is released as it has been written by my partner Stuart.
It is a fantastic read from start to finish, even though I knew the story inside out it still made me laugh and cry when I read the final copy.
Because I know Stuart so well and love him so much, I can see him as a child, I can picture what a little rascal he was at times and how funny he must have been. He is a lot better than he was three years ago but at times that little boy still comes through.
If you have a look at his website you will see what a cute little thing he was, I would challenge anyone not to love that little face.
This book is only the start for Stuart, his next book "Finding Stuart" tells how he recovered from his past and how today he is a successful business man, happy and content living a life of peace and serenity.
Both Stuart's and my wish is that both men and women read this book as it will be an inspiration to all.
I have lived the life of a partner of someone who suffered childhood abuse and i can tell you it is not an easy life to live. Because you love the survivor so much you try to love them better, you make excuses for their behaviour, you forgive them anything because, seeing a grown man cry like a baby and tell you day after day they don't want to live, they don't know how to be and they are sorry for being damaged, is the most heart wrenching thing ever.
Today Stuart is in full recovery from his past, we live one day at a time but what a fantastic life we have.
You may think that this is another in a long line of Survivors books, but the difference is it is about a boy who fought back not just the abuser but life, he refused to be a victim, he is no longer a victim.
I am no longer the partner of someone who wants to end their life, Stuart now knows how to be and he now cries tears of joy.
Anyone who is still suffering must read this book and more importantly "Finding Stuart" because I promise you, you can recover whether you are the survivor or the partner of the survivor, we are living proof.