Grooming
When someone builds an emotional connection with a child, teenager or adult to gain their trust for the purpose of sexual abuse or exploitation or to convert. It often happens online.
In 2019, an estimated 19,000 people were sexually groomed in England.
What are the Steps of Grooming?
- Targeting the victim by taking advantage of their vulnerabilities.
- Gaining the victim’s trust by getting to know their needs.
- Filling a need to become more important in the victim’s life.
- Isolating the person by creating situations in which they are alone together.
- Sexualising the relationship after having built emotional dependence.
- Maintaining control By threats of blame, violence, emotional blackmail along with many other methods.