Lisa Hoodless and Charlene Lunnon were 10 years old when they were snatched from the street by a convicted paedophile. For four days they were held prisoner in his flat and repeatedly sexually violated while the nation held its breath, willing them to be found safe. Alan Hopkinson was found by police with the girls huddled together in his front room. He pleaded guilty to the crime and was given nine life sentences.
And that, for the public at least, is where stories like this usually end. Children don't often survive adbuction by men such as Hopkinson, a truth that weighs heavily on the mind as we await news of nine-year-old Shannon Matthews, missing now for more than a week. If they do survive, we rarely hear from them again. There is a bleak assumption that they are sentenced to a lifetime of therapy, hopelessly damaged victims with the spectre of sexual abuse forever hanging over them.
Lisa and Charlene resent that assumption. Today they are young women of 19 and want it to be known that they are fine, actually. They don't underplay the grotesque ordeal to which they were subjected, but they do not agree that they have been ruined by it. Not at all. Sometimes they feel almost guilty about this, as if the very suggestion that you can “come to terms with” or “get over” rape, especially as a child victim, somehow trivialises the act and disrespects other victims. Let's be clear: they do not. What they are saying is that there is a choice about you deal with a catastrophic event. This is how they dealt with it.
It was on January 19, 1999 when the girls were walking to school together in their home town of St Leonards, near Hastings, East Sussex, that Hopkinson, prowling the neighbourhood in his car, struck. In a narrow street, he had almost hit Lisa when she stumbled on to the road and he got out to apologise. Seizing his moment, he started to bundle Lisa into the boot of his car. She screamed but no one came. Charlene, frozen with fear and not wanting to leave her best friend alone, simply allowed herself to be bundled in with her.
Lying in the darkness as Hopkinson drove towards Eastbourne, Charlene tried to comfort Lisa by singing to her. As the more streetwise of the two, she says that, even at 10, she realised from the outset that their kidnapper had a sexual motive. Both were convinced that they were about to be killed, but the presence of the other girl stopped either from becoming hysterical.
Hopkinson, then 45, whom the girls remember smelling “old and manky”, stopped first in a quiet, country layby, pulled Charlene out and, perhaps in some warped attempt to bond with her, made her sit on his knee and answer questions such as her name, favourite colour, favourite food and the names of her parents. He then called in at the house of his elderly parents, who were away on holiday, took Lisa inside, stripped her, tied her wrists behind her neck with a pair of tights and made her answer similar questions, writing down her responses. At no point did anyone hear Charlene, who was screaming loudly in the boot. When Charlene screamed that she needed the toilet, he produced a bucket. But this was merely Hopkinson's preamble. He drove the girls to his flat above a shopping centre in Eastbourne and smuggled them inside, where he began his systematic abuse, repeatedly taking them in turn into his filthy bedroom over the next few days.
It is highly uncomfortable to talk about the subject of child sexual abuse, more problematic still to write about it. Morally, should we leave what actually happened unsaid? Might it provide titillation for another paedophile? Or is it our duty to confront what happened, grotesque as it may be?
Neither Lisa or Charlene become distressed when they talk about it. In fact, they say it sometimes feels like they are recounting a story and it never really happened. “It's weird - when I see old news clips and cuttings [about when they were missing] I think: ‘Oh, I feel really sorry for those girls' but I don't see it as us,” says Charlene, who has perhaps learnt the benefits of dissociation. We conduct this interview at Charlene's house, which is only a minute's walk from Cornfield Terrace, the road where they were kidnapped. Neither has ever felt a need to move away from the area, although they say this is probably only because they know that Hopkinson will never be released.
Lisa remembers the first time that Hopkinson took Charlene into his bedroom while she was again left tied up in another room, her hands and feet turning purple with the pressure of the ligatures. She could hear her friend crying and pleading for Hopkinson to stop, terrified and bewildered about was going on. “That first time, Charlene came back and said: ‘He raped me,'” she says. “I said: ‘What's that?' I had no idea. She had to explain it to me. That's when I knew what was going on.”
Certainly Hopkinson had no mercy for the girls when they were weeping and pleading. Lisa says: “It used to go on for hours. I remember looking at the clock going round from 9 till 11 in the morning.” Charlene could hear her screams through the wall. Lisa learnt to separate herself from the moment, thinking of happier times with her parents to get her through the ordeal. Charlene says that sometimes Hopkinson just ordered her to lie on top of him naked. Cruelly, he had told them that he had asked their parents for ransom money but that they weren't prepared to pay. Yet he let them watch the TV news about the huge police search for them and the agonised faces of their parents at press conferences begging for their return, which clearly contradicted this. The Spice Girls made an appeal for information. Charlene says she could tell from her father's face on TV that he thought she was dead.
But, at the same time, Hopkinson seemed to want to bond with the children, to have a “meaningful” relationship with them. Each time he abused the girls, he claimed to be overcome with remorse. “After he'd done whatever he'd done, he said: ‘Right, I won't do that no more. I'm a bad man,'” Charlene says. “But he always did.” He would tell them stories about other children he claimed to be friendly with and warned them that if they tried to escape there was a madman living next door with a dog who would kill them. Being children, they believed him. “He'd say: ‘At least I'm being gentle with you, not like other men would be,'” Lisa says. Meanwhile, he had removed all the door handles in the flat so that they couldn't escape.
Once, when he was asleep, they plotted to kill him and searched the flat for a knife, but Hopkinson had hidden them all. “We honestly thought that this was it for the rest of our lives,” Lisa says. “I thought that this was going to be our home.” Incredibly, Hopkinson once left the girls alone in the flat while he went to collect his parents from the airport. But all the windows were bolted, the doors were locked and the girls in any case were frightened of the “madman” next door. They raised each other's spirits by cuddling each other and talking about school and things they might do if they were ever released.
I watched the programme last night and was blown away by the courage of these two young women. Against all the odds, they have found a way to deal with what happened to them and move on. They are a credit to their parents, eachother and, most importantly, themselves. People here have suggested that there may be setbacks in the future. Maybe there will be, but I trust that these brave young women find a way through anything that life throws at them. I wish them everything that they would wish for themselves - they deserve it.
Maggie, Herts,
How can people do such things to children, who are a gift from God?
The world is an unjust place.
Good for these two girls, they are enjoying life and not letting their being assaulted influence how they view themselves throughout life. Role models, both of them.
Parson Jim, San Diego, CA
"Of course, we do not know whether they will still feel like this in future and whether their courage is partly teenage buoyancy."
i am appalled at these words. why is that we have put our minds into small boxes? rape leading to lifelong rejection of life. failed marriage leading to lifelong rejection of meaningful relationships. failed attempt at dissection of these girls' immense courage to rebuild their life leading to assigning it to 'teenage bouyancy'
maryum farhan, new jersey, USA
Peter, of London, said:
"Just because you and these girls do not hate the criminal does not reduce what he did or what the crime is to a shoulder shrug worthy of the remark: "i cannot believe the obessssion we have with paedophilia"...We should not excuse or belittle the actions of someone as merely 'sad' who commits such a terrible crime. "
I'm sorry you find my comments "beneath contempt". I find yours to be exactly the illustration of what I was saying. Obviously these attackers are not just sad, but as a victim, that is how I see the perpetrator. Do you really think that it would be healthier for us to think of them in the slightly hysterical way that you suggest? Criminal, yes, evil, yes, but what does that do for us? So I do reduce my own attacker to a shoulder shrug, because I am lucky enough to be able to do so, because I am worth much more consideration than he is, and because they don't deserve anything more from me, or from any other victims. We are so much more.
Chryseis, London, England
Between the ages of 11 and 12 I was raped 5 times at the threat of strangling; drowning; suffocation; knifing and just passively the last time - no point fight ing anymore. The 1st time happened with my 2 sisters and friends next door. They heard my screams, pleading and sobs but not one word was ever said about it between any of them. I was scared so my parents never knew. I am now in my forties and told friends about my experiences about 10 years ago; I refuse to tell my Dad in case he feels somehow responsible (Mum died not knowing)
And yes, I felt guilty afterwards for not knowing what sex was & was more scared of being murdered and thrown off a 5 storey flat than the actual 1st rape
I'm not as resilient as these brave ladies and the rapes have affected my live in many ways. It doesn't mean I'm unhappy or always thinking about it I have my moments & nightmares, still - but with the support and love of my husband I cope well.
I agree that councelling, for me, was useless
Hilly, Durrington, UK
Elise
to live through an ordeal like theirs means you HAVE to see what positives you can from such an experience to get through. The fact that these 2 girls are getting on with their lives and dealing with the experience in their own way is a tribute to them. They will be getting over this in various ways for the rest of their lives.
A Mason, London,
What an eztraordinary pair of young ladies! Truly inspirational. Top marks to them and all happiness for the future!
Archie, Thrapston, England
Thank you, Charlene and Lisa, for sharing with us your determination to transmute a potentially very damaging circumstance into a wonderful statement of the power of the human spirit. To be able to say 'Hating him would empower him ' and to refuse to be defined by his crime are truly fantastic confirmations of who you both are.
I am sure your willingness to speak out, and to do so in such a
victorious manner, will be a source of inspiration and help to many,many people.
I wish you both well in your continued adventure of self-empowerment and self-fulfillment.
Keith, Dalsland, Sweden
Excellent article about two remarkable individuals.
John Tomlinson, Brentwood, uk
Kathryn , Sheffield, UK
That is exactly what the article implies so your comment is misdirected.
Peter, London,
There must be lessons to be learned from this affair - but the most obvious one is the utter uselessness of most "counseling".
There's never been any evidence for the efficacy of this practice - most of Freud's patients committed suicide. OK, so some people feel they'd benefit and choose it for themselves - but let's protect the likes of Lisa and Charlene from this further abuse.
Andy Dyer, London, UK,
It is very uplifting to see these young women move forward with courage and determination. However, they may experience remnants of the healing process at a later time; while it is romantically appealing to state that victims of abuse simply wake up after their trauma and have "gotten over it," the reality is that healing is a process, and the length of the process itself is unique to each person. Thank goodness that they were given justice; in the reams of sexual abuse cases where perpetrators walk free, targets become victims. Justice in itself fuels the healing process by recognizing the fault of the perpetrator.
Naomi, Leeds, UK
Very emotive and thought-provoking article. I must say, the mental fortitude that Charlene and Lisa found to get them to this point is truly awe-inspiring.
With regards to their attitude towards the experience, I think, in my opinion, it shows how they can look back with an objective eye - seeing the not-so-obvious good with the all-too-obvious bad.
Jodie makes a very good point - judge the perpetrator rather than the victim, and simply accept that the girls have dealt with it in their way, and not how society thinks they should respond.
Just my own point of view.
Mart, Manchester, UK
Therapists, and other human beings, have a great deal of difficulty grasping that people can and do respond in different ways to trauma for the simple reason that people are different. Some are simply more resilient than others. In addition, too many therapists really aren't very good at their jobs and don't know how to help trauma victims move past their experiences rather than define themselves by them. Victimhood, after all, makes the world of therapy go 'round. A child who has been through something like this should certainly be offered therapy but never forced to remain in it, since that really can compound the trauma. Sometimes, a victim who rejects therapy at first may later seek it out simply by virtue of having been made aware earlier that it exists. These women may need more help later, but for now, they seem to be doing admirably well.
Lili, Chicago, USA
Chryseis,
Elise makes an entirely valid point. Just because you and these girls do not hate the criminal does not reduce what he did or what the crime is to a shoulder shrug worthy of the remark: "i cannot believe the obessssion we have with paedophilia". Good grief. As someone who knows how those affected can react i find your comment, regardless of your experience, beyond contempt. We should not excuse or belittle the actions of someone as merely 'sad' who commits such a terrible crime. Why do we have so many woolly headed liberals walking around sneering at anyone who feels crime is inexcusable and absolutely unquivocablly wrong and the criminals BENEATH contempt.
Peter, London,
I respect them in many ways. Not a lot of people could stay positive and leave the past behind them. I think they are a great role model to anyone who has had that experience and even to those who haven't. I agree with what they said about madeleine. People shouldn't just give up. I pray to god that she is found and still in good health and I pray to god that these 2 brave girls are blessed with many miracles to come.
Safiye, London,
I was abused at the age of 8. I went to play with a friend, then his Dad called him away and he didn't come back. His Dad came up & showed me adult magazines then abused me, at times using a knife because I was so small. he told me he'd kill my mother if I told and that I was a dirty horrible girl. So I covered my injuries and didn't tell. Blocked it out and just carried on as normal. He died soon after, suicide.
As a result of the attack I cannot have children. But I have my own house, a car and job that I love. I've had happy relationships and lousy ones, just like any other woman. I'm in my mid thirties now and rarely think about it.
Rape doesn't define the people who are raped, they are normal, behaving normally, we are not the aberrant ones. Look at the rapist, analyse him. I am normal, something bad happened 1 day, but I have been alive for 12,775 days, that's the context. It was a tiny thing. So I can live my life like everyone else. I'm entitled, I didn't do anything wrong.
Jodie, Bristol, UK
As response to Elise from London, the girls arent "glad" it happened, what kind of sick, sad mind do you have to even think that?!?!?!? What would YOU do in a situation like this...would you let it ruin you????
I hope I'd be strong enough to put it behind me, move on with my life and not let it ruin and define me for the rest of my days, like these courageous girls have. Evidently you're not as strong as them, which is plain to see in your email.
They are beyond commendable. I hope I'd be as brave as them were I in a situation as horrific.
Kathryn , Sheffield, UK
Many congratulations to these young women for not adopting the mantle of 'victim'. I hope that their lives continue as they wish them to.
David Leslie, Perth, Scotland
I think these girls were remarkably brave in coming to terms with what happened to them. Yet it is quite unusual for two children to be abducted at once - most abductees have to suffer alone. It is also, sadly, unusual for perpetrators to be brought to justice.
I am a bit concerned at the tone of this article, with its implied criticism of "victims" and therapy. Many abused people are attacked and molested for years, and truly do need help - especially when the abusers are family members and there is no way of escape. I think we need to understand anyone who goes through this, not just drop nasty hints that people ought to "pull themselves together" and "get over it".
K John, London, UK
Elise, you really have no idea what you're talking about. I was the victim of an assault when I was eight, and I feel the same way that they do - it has partly made me become the stronger person that I am now, and it has not been even a tiny part of my life otherwise. I don't hate him either - I think he's a sad, pathetic loser, and that I'm just fine. Good on both Charlene and Lisa, who have done exactly right and should be applauded - more than that, really. They are dealing with things brilliantly, and only a relatively sick public could possibly suggest that they should do otherwise. Sometimes I wonder about the obsession than Britain has with paedophilia.
Chryseis, London, England
Kids can get over so much. I don't recall much about being 10 or a nasty experience of nearly drowning. But i would not trivialise this crime and make any potential paedos out there feel they are doing someone a favour.
The media should exercise caution in conveying that message if it needs to be conveyed at all.
People who cannot get over incidents are often more likely to be adults for whom memory is a much more difficult thing. That does not mean that they are perpetual victims or unable to move on either. And of course there are still some kids out there for whom the experience will be damaging. I'm not sure what this article sets out to really prove. But good luck to both of them
Amy, London,
I tried to read the whole of this powerful article but was too disgusted by it. My partner was sexually abused as a child by a family friend and she has never fully recovered to this day. God knows how these two girls have managed to cope so well? I also have a young daughter and would die if anything like this should happen to her. Why is this country so soft on these animals instead of executing them?
Jay Khan, Birmingham, UK
I just wanted to state that my father lived in Zimbabawe and was forced to fight with the Rhodesian army (like the pedophile) although he rarely talks about it, I'm sure it can't have been a pleasant experience. I don't believe that any amount of suffering can justify the acts that he committed. Electronic tags should be permanently put on all paedophiles to enable them to be located. That is a possible solution that I can think of, all the rest are rather more grim.
Can't anything be done (ie sending the world's strongest viruses) to shut down all child pornograpy sites??
Alex Mc, Islingtonia,
The girlls' memories of counselling reflect similar emotions to those concentrations camp victims have expressed, namely that the constant "going over" their trauma does nothing to help them.
Indeed, it seems to prolong the agony. They show great maturity in the way they have moved on.
leila , manchester, uk
it's some small consolation that these girls feel they are getting through it. people are remarkably resilient.
however, what is no consolation is that hopkinson was not hanging from a tree after his first abduction and assault, but was out on the streets to kidnap and rape these two girls.
jem, london, uk
Not at all like these brave girls, I went through a traumatic experience many years ago and I 'had' to be counselled. When I say 'had' I dont mean that I was forced to, but that I was made to feel that I had some sort of duty to do so, because some expert thought that I would need it. I was made to feel a 'victim' even though I was not, nor did I believe I was but I felt guilty because of this. When I think back, the counselling was far more traumatic than the actual event. These girls refused to be the 'victims' that society seems to demand nowadays and I am pleased they are prepared to say so. The experts are not always right and can make traumatic events worse than they actually are, on a personal basis. Many people are often far stronger than they are given credit for, it is often society's response that makes them 'victims'
winstonian, Darlington, UK
This is a wonderful example of how individuals can cope with the most extreme traumatic circumstances. However, was it really necessary to go into all the gruesome details in the article.
Kat, Nottingham,
an excellent example of what support & companionship means in a crisis. even when you are only 10 yr old best friends. doesnt it make sense that because the 'bigger thing' of their friendship and normal lives was still a part of those days the experience with the idiot took second place? good on them.
leslie, auckland, nz
I can't understand how these 2 girls feel that they are in some way 'glad' ? that they went through that ordeal.... I would never wish that on someone else let alone go through it myself. Whether it was a life changing experience for the better or not.
Elise, London, UK