In the later stages, the perpetrators build upon the alienation which may have begun in earlier stages through the child’s truanting, deception and concealment. The perpetrators continue to seek to sever the child’s links with family, friends and other support systems. Distance means the perpetrators’ activities go unhindered. The child is led further into a life of violence, exploitation and crime. The sexually exploitation process results in the child earning money to support the child’s ‘needs’ and those of the perpetrators.

Control and alienation is exercised in the following ways:

• encouraging over 16s to seek their own accommodation in order to exploit the distance from support networks and create a widened, irreversible gap;
• proactively seeking accommodation for the child;
• encouraging the child to make abuse claims against family members;
• using ‘love’ AND physical and mental torture;
• encouraging teenage pregnancy and then exercising further control via a baby or arranging a termination; and
• creating conflicting feelings of love and hate, protection and exploitation, guilt and innocence, entitlements and duties.

Although some children are able to free themselves from their perpetrators, the whole experience, particularly when it is sustained over a long time during a period of significant personal development, can profoundly change the child’s personality and affect their life prospects and chances. This includes the child experiencing significant psychological effects and extends to the child facing adverse social and economic consequences.