'I know what it feels like to be vulnerable': Charlie Webster reflects on her harrowing sexual abuse ordeal as she visits women's refuge for victims of domestic violence

By Jason Chester for MailOnline

Published: 08:32 EST, 27 January 2017 | Updated: 12:33 EST, 27 January 2017

She previously waived her right to anonymity in a bid to break perceived taboos surrounding domestic and sexual abuse.

And after speaking candidly about her own harrowing experiences at the hands of a predatory athletics coach when she was 15, Charlie Webster has drawn attention to the plight of abused women by vising a refuge.

Featuring in a special dispatch on Friday’s edition of This Morning, the 31-year old presenter took a tour of the secret home for victims of domestic violence, during which she met with residents.

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Harrowing: Charlie Webster has drawn attention to the plight of abused women by vising a refuge for victims of domestic violence  on Friday's edition of This Morning 

‘I’ve spoken out about being the victim of sexual abuse, and I know what it feels like to be vulnerable and how hard it is to seek help,’ she said.

‘That’s why I support women who suffer domestic violence, because no matter what the situation, abuse is never acceptable.

‘We’ve been given rare access into a women’s refuge to speak to the victims who are bravely breaking the wall of silence that surrounds domestic abuse. ‘

Opening up: The presenter has previously spoken candidly about her own harrowing experiences at the hands of an athletics coach when she was 15

Harrowing: Charlie spoke to victims of domestic abuse during her visit to the Women's refuge 

Reflective: ‘I’ve spoken out about being the victim of sexual abuse, and I know what it feels like to be vulnerable and how hard it is to seek help,’ Charlie said

Speaking from the studio, show host Ruth Langsford admitted that while it is sad to think of children witnessing abuse, it was also reassuring to know that such refuge centres exist.

Charlie broke her right to anonymity in 2014, telling Radio 5 that she suffered sexual abuse while at school.

'I got quite close to the running coach because you do,' she recalled. 'You start to trust them when you're a young kid, and he started to take me for a few private sessions because he said I was good and I could do with some extra sessions because that would really help.

Thankful: Speaking from the studio, show host Ruth Langsford admitted that while it is sad to think of children witnessing abuse, it was also reassuring to know that such refuge centres exist

'He abused the fact that I was an innocent person who wanted his support and his compassion and his care as my running coach.' 

The predator, who Chalie had originally thought of as a 'male role model,' was eventually sentenced to 10 years in jail and placed on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life. 

She added: 'You should never touch a young girl anyway, but he very, very manipulatively and very slowly sexually assaulted me.' 

Revelation: Charlie (pictured right, at the women's refuge) broke her right to anonymity in 2014, telling Radio 5 that she suffered sexual abuse while at school 

 

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