Male victims of rape and sexual assault

No-one likes to talk about male rape and sexual assault. There are many myths and a lot of ignorance surrounding this crime and for this reason and others a lot of victims never mention it, never seek counselling nor claim the compensation  to which they may be due. We can help you, as we helped other victims of violent crime, to claim what is theirs and while it can never take away the pain and the hurt it can help you get some degree of closure and a feeling that someone has listened to you.

The level of compensation that can be recovered depends upon the severity and frequency of the attack as well as the age of the victim – levels of compensation to male victims of rape and sexual assault.

Here are some of the most common questions relating to male rape and sexual abuse to help you decide whether you have been the subject of rape and/or sexual assault.

What is male sexual assault?
Male sexual assault is when you have been forced to take part in any sexual act with another man or woman to which you did not willingly consent. Even if you did not resist or fight back at the time of the attack or where incapable of doing so through drink or drugs, it is still assault.

Who can it happen to?
Anyone. It could have happened to you whilst you were a child or a teenager, or as an adult. It is not just, as it is often seen, a ‘gay’ crime and is more likely to happen to a straight male that a gay male.

Who are the perpetrators?
Again, it could be anyone – male or female. But it is more likely that any abuse will come from within the family rather than from outside; more men are raped by people they knew rather than strangers.

What kind of effects can male survivors experience?
Again, it varies from individual to individual, but common effects include; feelings of isolation, depression, anger, anxiety, issues about sexuality and gender, substance abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, negative body image, fears about abusing, hyperconsciousness of body and appearance, and even split or multiple personalities.

Who else is affected?
The psychological and mental health issues which survivors often experience, can also lead to real problems with relationships. So anyone who shares his life, be it partner, friend or family, can be affected.

Why do so many men suffer in silence?
Because of our society’s taboo about male rape and sexual assault it is rare that a victim will go to the police or seek immediate help – on the contrary, he will often be as desperate to keep it a secret as his attacker is. As well as the trauma and feelings of shame, many of our clients face the difficulties of people’s attitudes to male rape and abuse.

If you feel that you have been the victim of rape and or sexual assault we can help you claim compensation from the CICA so contact us now:

To get your claim started or to have a chat to see what we can do to help, get in touch with us today:

  • call: 0113 224 7804 (24 hours)
  • email: enquiry@cohencramerpi.co.uk
  • pop your details into the contact box at the bottom of this page and we will get back to you

For the Quality Legal Service you deserve.

Survivors UK have a helpline open 3 nights per week and also offer individual counselling and group therapy in London on a sliding cost scale based on income.