DAVE HARRIS ATTACKED IN CHILD OKEFORD AFTER CHILDHOOD ABUSE REVELATION

In a deeply personal and distressing account, a man identified as Mark, a father of four, recounted how he confronted a man he accused of abusing him during his childhood. The incident took place outside the residence of Dave Harris in Child Okeford, Dorset, where Mark, overwhelmed by years of suppressed trauma, decided to take justice into his own hands.

Mark revealed that Harris, who is now in his 50s, had been a family friend during his youth. The abuse, which he claims lasted from the age of seven until he was 13, had left a lasting scar on his mental health. After years of suffering in silence, Mark learned that Harris was living in Child Okeford, prompting him to seek out a confrontation. The emotional toll of the abuse had led Mark to spend time in psychiatric wards and attempt suicide twice, and he shared that his personal life had been profoundly affected—his wife had left him, and he no longer saw his children.

According to Mark, his decision to confront Harris was driven by a need for closure. He explained, “I was no longer a 35-year-old man when I walked up the path to see him. I was an eight-year-old boy again. I’m not proud of belting him. I got no sense of enjoyment.” He emphasized that his actions were not about violence but about facing his past. “It was about confronting him — and my past — not about hurting him. I was surprised that I was taller and stronger than him and could turn the tables after all those years of misery.”

Following the assault, Mark immediately took responsibility for his actions. He handed himself into the police and admitted to assault and criminal damage during a hearing at Blandford Magistrates’ Court in Dorset. The magistrates acknowledged his circumstances, stating, “We do not condone assault. But we have had regard to your circumstances.” Harris, meanwhile, is believed to have left his residence, with a neighbor suggesting he might be in some form of protective custody. Mark expressed that the confrontation, while regrettable, was a necessary step for him towards reclaiming his life. “After it was over I knew I’d done wrong and immediately handed myself into the police. But I knew I’d finally got my life back. No amount of therapy could have done that for me.”

Mark also shared that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder related to the abuse. His story highlights the long-lasting impact of childhood trauma and the complex emotions involved in seeking justice and closure after many years.