A mum has shared the shockingstory of how her young son was groomed by a man over Xbox and PlayStation as a warning to other parents.
The mum says her 12-year-old son met the 23-year-old man while out playing football, before he quickly began contacting him over Xbox and PlayStation and started to try and control the boy's life, the Manchester Evening News reports.
As the boy became withdrawn and began spending more time in his bedroom, his parents initially put it down to hormones. However, he eventually broke down in school and revealed what had been happening to him a teacher, it was then his parents learnt the horrifc truth.
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Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, the mum said: "I was devastated but also in a strange way relieved that now I finally knew what was wrong and that we could do something about it and help him.
"All the clues suddenly fell into place and it made sense of so much of his behaviour.
"For example he used to go to sleep with his headphones in, saying he was listening to music on his phone to calm him. But actually it was the offender who wouldn't let him switch off and wanted to listen in - even when he was sleeping - to have 24-hour control.
"He would constantly be talking to him via his Xbox and Playstation, or on his phone. The longest phone call was one where he made him stay on it all day. He would hear the family talking to my son and telling him off...then drilled into him that we were no good."
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The man would also tell the boy to leave his parents and promised to 'look after' him.
She added: "He took over our son's life, grooming him, being in constant contact online, buying him Xbox games, manipulating him, and segregating him from his friends and family to gain total control.
"He eventually started meeting him straight from school and would take him to local playing fields where he would sexually assault him. He also convinced him he was gay - whereas now he realises he isn't."
The man was caught by police and charged with grooming and sexual abuse - he was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison last October.
Three years on from the abuse, the boy is piecing his life back together, having just sat his GCSEs. His parents are now speaking out to warn other parents to be vigilant and not to ignore any changes in their child's behaviour or attitude.
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Featured Image Credit: PA