BRISTOL OFFENDER ROBERT MCCLELLAND'S HARROWING CASE AND SURVIVOR'S STORY

In August 2017, the distressing account of Kim, a survivor from Bristol, emerged detailing her traumatic experience of grooming and sexual abuse by her mother’s partner, Robert Stuart McClelland, now aged 57. Kim, who is now 29, courageously waived her anonymity to share her story of abuse inflicted by McClelland, who initially gained her trust by helping her with homework and showering her with gifts.

Kim’s family situation changed after her parents’ separation when she was just 10, prompting her and her mother to move away from their old home. It was during this period that her mother met McClelland online, and he began to involve himself in Kim’s life under the guise of support.

Kim recalls, “He used to offer to help me with my homework, and I would sit on his lap and he’d explain the homework to me.” As time went on, she found it difficult to maintain contact with her father, especially after her mother encouraged her to cut ties, saying she “couldn’t cope” with Kim.

At 13, Kim was left in McClelland’s unoccupied house, where she was introduced to alcohol, which she had never tried before. Despite her discomfort, he continued to pursue her, eventually forcing her into sex and scratching the date onto a bottle as a grim keepsake. Kim admitted, “Even though he was so cruel to me, I completely depended on him. He would buy me gifts—like a CD, which was expensive for me—and that made me feel special.”

The abuse persisted, with McClelland often taking Kim out of school and claiming to protect her from bullies. When she was around 14, Kim experienced severe stomach pains, and a medical examination revealed she was three months pregnant. She confided in her mother, who, a children’s nurse, expressed disappointment, and Kim then underwent a surgical abortion. A nurse noted she had STDs, but no questions were asked.

Kim’s first escape attempt was facilitated by a family friend she contacted after her pregnancy. “The reason I decided to tell someone was because when I got pregnant, his attitude towards me completely changed,” Kim explained. “He told me I had to get rid of the baby, and told me he didn’t love me.” With this support, she eventually told the police.

At just 15, Kim reported McClelland’s ongoing abuse, which included touching and forced intercourse, leading to her pregnancy. Evidence such as a bottle inscribed with the first attack’s date, CDs, and text messages were collected. McClelland was charged, pleaded not guilty, and stood trial. He was eventually convicted and sentenced to six years in prison for indecent assault and sexual intercourse with a girl under 16. He was also placed on the sex offenders register.

Despite legal justice, Kim found little emotional closure. Her STD treatments left physical scars, but the mental and emotional wounds from her trauma persisted. She entered foster care and attempted suicide at 17. Driven to escape her pain, she traveled abroad, but her struggles continued, leading to her first mental health breakdown at 24, with self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

Kim reflected, “I think it’s common for many people who have gone through abuse to self-harm. I felt like I was really bad and I wanted to cut that out of me. I had so many emotions, and I really hated myself. It was terrible, it was awful.”

At 18, Kim enrolled in law studies at Nottingham University, aiming to become a criminal prosecutor due to her own experiences. However, she found her calling in human rights law, driven by her desire to help others. She later moved to Australia to work as a human rights lawyer but suffered a relapse, attempting her own life again. She returned to Bristol to be closer to friends and access local support services, which had prohibitively long waiting lists.

Noticing a gap in support, Kim decided to create a peer group for survivors of sexual assault in Bristol. “Feeling you are the only one going through something like that is so isolating,” she said. “When I met other people, I didn’t see them as damaged or broken, in the way I saw myself. They were incredibly brave and inspiring. For the first time, I didn’t feel alone and thought, for a moment, that maybe I am brave too.”

Her support group, ‘Survivors of Abuse and Sexual Violence Bristol,’ has gained rapid interest, with over 60 individuals joining so far. Kim hopes her story encourages others to seek help and break their isolation, emphasizing, “You feel very low, and when I met other people, I didn’t see them as damaged or broken, in the way I saw myself. They were incredibly brave and inspiring.” Support details can be found on their dedicated page.