Choirboy abuse victim to launch autobiography at CRE

As a 10-year-old in a council-run children's home, John Affleck spent more than two years being abused by a ring of paedophiles.

Serially raped and rented to homosexuals, Affleck, now 50, was forced to endure the worst kind of sexual abuse imaginable at the Green Field House in Maidenhead, Berkshire. His life story is to be launched at the National Christian Resources Exhibition from 13 -16 May, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey.

The book is published at a time when people claiming to have been abused at the Haut de la Garenne care home in Jersey are considering legal action against the Jersey government.

"On Sunday mornings the manager of the home, Don Prescott, would do things under the covers of a double bed while his wife Doris sat drinking tea," recalls Affleck. "He made me promise to keep it as 'our secret'. I was then taken to the local church to sing in the choir."

Prescott died more than a decade ago, before any charges were brought against him. In all, 14 boys from Green Field House have sued Windsor and Maidenhead council for the abuse which took place between 1964 and 1970. Nine men have so far received an out-of-court payout totalling more than £300,000.

Haunted by his memories, Affleck's teenage life unravelled. He descended into a life of crime and violence, borstal and prison.

"After suffering this type of abuse you feel emotionally numb," he admits in Abuse (Verité, £8.99). "You lose the ability to feel affection or pleasure."

Affleck eventually attended a church meeting in Southampton in 1993 and made a Christian commitment. Subsequently, his life has been far from settled - "but if I hadn't become a Christian I would have gone into meltdown, to the point of no return."

The solicitor dealing with the Green Field House case told Affleck that, out of all of the abused boys, he had coped the best. His resilience in fighting mental illness also impressed a psychiatrist.

"I think he was referring to what Christ has achieved in my life over the past 15 years," says Affleck. He has created the Glory Story - an overview of the Bible in film, currently being used in 37 countries. The film is in the process of being translated into several languages.

"People ask me if I have forgiven the men who abused me. I answer 'Yes'. When you see the beauty of Christ and what he did on the cross, you are left with no option but to forgive," he says.

The biography of Boyzone member Shane Lynch will also be launched at CRE which runs from May 13-16.

A seminar, workshop and special features programme has been carefully constructed to meet the needs of people at all levels of church leadership. Up to 350 organisations will exhibit and more than 14,000 visitors are expected to attend what is the biggest annual Christian exhibition in Europe.

More info: www.creonline.co.uk