New MP Natalie Fleet says she was ‘groomed’ by older man before becoming pregnant at 15
NEW MP Natalie Fleet said she was “groomed” by an older man before becoming pregnant at 15-years-old.
The Labour MP said it still has a “massive impact” and experiences “weekly nightmares” over what happened to her as a young girl.
Natalie Fleet told GB News that her family had been “struggling” 23-years-ago and were at one point homeless.
She said she was full of “shame and guilt” after giving birth at a young age, but was “determined” to provide the best life for her daughter.
Now, the MP has told of being “groomed” before discovering she was pregnant.
“That was an older man. That was potentially, I mean now we have labels like grooming that we didn’t have then,” she said.
“I didn’t know we were having unprotected sex. I was a child and this is statutory rape.”
The mum-of-four is advocating to be “a voice for women that have children in far from ideal circumstances” after finding little help in her own situation.
She added: “There was nothing. There’s no acknowledgement that it happens in the UK.
“And the more research I’ve done, I’ve found that there are over 3,000 conceptions every year from rape, but there’s no charity to support these women.”
In her new role in the Bolsover seat, she hopes to spark change and “smash down barriers to opportunity”.
On her newly elected position, Mrs Fleet added: “I am a product of the last Labour government.
“It wasn’t a perfect government, but it changed my life and it was transformational.
“And that’s the reason that it’s worth doing a job where you can’t go to the shop in your pyjamas anymore, but where you still have a panic alarm in your bag, your own children are potentially at risk, that’s really awful.
“But when it means that you can make other children’s lives, who aren’t as fortunate, better, that’s incredible.”
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
