adminLONDON. – Media personality Rebekah Vardy has alleged she was sexually abused as a child by an individual in the Jehovah’s Witness community.
Speaking as part of a new Channel 4 documentary, Mrs Vardy said she was abused between the ages of 11 and 15.
She claimed the alleged abuse was covered up by “elders”, senior male leaders within the religious group.
In a statement, Jehovah’s Witnesses said they “lacked the information to comment on individual cases”.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are a Christian denomination with around 8.5 million followers worldwide and which believes the destruction of the world is imminent.
Mrs Vardy, who grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness, says she hopes by speaking about her experiences that she will be able to show others there is a “light at the end of the tunnel”.
She will be seen making the accusation as part of a Channel 4 documentary, Rebekah Vardy: Jehovah’s Witnesses And Me, which is broadcast on Channel 4 at 22:00 BST on Tuesday.
Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain about the documentary, Mrs Vardy said she was “scared of the consequences” of speaking about sexual abuse due to “the fear of bringing shame on to the family”.
“I found this part of my life a bit of an obstacle but I wanted to use this obstacle to create an opportunity to help other people that have been in similar situations and just hopefully show that there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” she told the programme.
“I think I realised that I’ve probably only just scratched the surface, I think my story isn’t unique and there’s going to be plenty of others, as have already come out, that will continue to come out.” – BBC
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter