About this ebook
In 2013, a series of high-profile court cases sent shockwaves through the West Midlands town of Telford.
Seven men, all from the town’s Pakistani heritage community, were jailed for selling vulnerable young girls for sex.
The convictions made national news, but for one girl the chilling headlines were all too real. Holly Archer was just fourteen when her life changed forever after becoming embroiled in a frightening web of exploitation and abuse. Enduring countless violent rapes and death threats, she was forced to sleep with several men a night. As her abusers’ grip tightened, she fell into despair, twice becoming pregnant. Hours after her last GCSE exam, Holly took an overdose in a desperate attempt to end the nightmare that had become her life.
Her escape eventually came when, old enough to leave home, she fled to Birmingham. She moved house every six months, fearing her abusers would hunt her down. She eventually found the strength to return to Telford shortly after giving birth to a daughter, around the same time the police launched an investigation into the exploitation of young girls in the town. She underwent hours of rigorous police interviews but in the end decided she could not face her abusers in court.
Nonetheless, seven men were convicted of sex offences and jailed as a result of the investigation. Holly slowly began to pick up the pieces of her life and was given a job with a rape prevention charity. Having survived her ordeal, she now tells her full, shocking story for the first time.
I Never Gave My Consent is a courageous yet uplifting memoir of someone who faced the cruelest of circumstances. Perfect for readers of Cathy Glass.
Seven men, all from the town’s Pakistani heritage community, were jailed for selling vulnerable young girls for sex.
The convictions made national news, but for one girl the chilling headlines were all too real. Holly Archer was just fourteen when her life changed forever after becoming embroiled in a frightening web of exploitation and abuse. Enduring countless violent rapes and death threats, she was forced to sleep with several men a night. As her abusers’ grip tightened, she fell into despair, twice becoming pregnant. Hours after her last GCSE exam, Holly took an overdose in a desperate attempt to end the nightmare that had become her life.
Her escape eventually came when, old enough to leave home, she fled to Birmingham. She moved house every six months, fearing her abusers would hunt her down. She eventually found the strength to return to Telford shortly after giving birth to a daughter, around the same time the police launched an investigation into the exploitation of young girls in the town. She underwent hours of rigorous police interviews but in the end decided she could not face her abusers in court.
Nonetheless, seven men were convicted of sex offences and jailed as a result of the investigation. Holly slowly began to pick up the pieces of her life and was given a job with a rape prevention charity. Having survived her ordeal, she now tells her full, shocking story for the first time.
I Never Gave My Consent is a courageous yet uplifting memoir of someone who faced the cruelest of circumstances. Perfect for readers of Cathy Glass.
Ratings and reviews
4.6
399 reviews
Michelle Collett
- Flag inappropriate
February 2, 2017
I couldn't put the book down. I'd read about the child sex abuse cases in Telford and others, and had seen a film based on the horrific events, with young good looking asian teens grooming young girls to then take to an older relative or friend of the family. Its more shocking reading it in black and white as a first hand account of the abuse of so many years. I critics d so many tears and feel angry that nobody in authority recognised she was exhibiting signs of abuse. I'm glad her life has turned around.
9 people found this review helpful
Riya x
- Flag inappropriate
March 28, 2017
My heart is literally aching after reading this. I wish Holly the very best in life with her children and partner. She is a very very strong person and a true survivor. I pray that the inhumane animals who do this die a very painful and slow death. It kills me when I think there's millions out there right now suffering the exact same or worse. I'm 30 and I've gone through alot in life that I stil blame my family for even my own mother. Our parents are supposed to look out for us, protect us, teach us whats
11 people found this review helpful
Karen Featherstone
- Flag inappropriate
March 11, 2017
Gripping for the reader, horrifying having once been a teenage girl and terrifying as a mum. There but for the grace of God go most other teenagers who get into some scrapes but come through unscathed. You can see how easily peer pressure can lead a kid down a terrible path. Holly, thank you for writing this book. How brave you are to have put pen to paper. Good luck with the rest of your life. X
9 people found this review helpful
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
