Not Normal: The uncensored account of an extraordinary true life story

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On my first night I wet the bed and a nurse scrubbed me in bleach and said 'That's what we do to whoever wets the bed here'," he said. The confrontation, which happened when Paul was 13 years old, meant that the abuse towards him stopped. Learning to read and write as an adult

She will be joined by the author and inspiration behind the film, Paul Connolly, the chief executive and clinical director of Kids Inspire, Sue Bell OBE, Olivier award-winning actress and patron of the charity, Ruthie Henshall, and the film’s executive producer, Richard Hart. The investigation, titled Operation Mapperton, uncovered child abuse at the children's home and Paul gave evidence discussing his time growing up at St Leonard's. It came out, after certain reporting restrictions were lifted at the Old Bailey, that St Leonard's was not just a home for children without a place to go, but paedophiles. A third social worker, Hayden Davies, 79, who was convicted for buggering a teenage boy in 1981, faced 37 charges of indecent assault, rape and buggery, had proceedings dropped against him after the loss of evidence meant a fair trial was not possible. The home's superintendent, a former Labour councillor, Alan Prescott, 79, had indecently assaulted four teenage boys at various points during the 1970s.It cost me nearly everything I hold dear, but it must be told. Even now there are pressures on children from many directions and abuse takes on many forms. It emerged that one house-father, Bill Starling, 94, had indecently assaulted, raped or buggered 11 victims, aged between five to 14 years old over twenty years, The Guardian reports. Kids Inspire do amazing work and I hope that between us and with this film reaching a wider audience, we will continue to make positive changes together." His latest book, Not Normal , was released earlier this month and Paul says it is even more detailed than the first. Read More Related Articles Paul has spoken of how the children would not go to school as they would be bullied following the abuse at the children's home, and instead would go and ride horses.

It featured 13 cottages housing up to 300 children at any given time and saw 3,000 children pass through between 1965 and 1984 when it was closed. Many others suffered various forms of abuse by the home’s staff and the housemaster, Bill Starling, was eventually jailed in 2001 for 14 years for the horrific crimes he committed. He works with various charities and is a core participant in the IICSA historical child abuse enquiry providing a voice for many no longer able to speak up. Above all else, Paul is most proud of being a loving father to his two sons. Despite leaving the care system illiterate, today Paul is a specialist physiotherapist and sports injury expert, personal trainer and best-selling author. He works with charities and advocates for victims of historical child abuse. Above all else, he is the proud father of two boys. Michael Socha plays Paul Connolly in the lead role. Zoë Tapper plays Anthea. Mitchell Norman, Joshua Coombes, Brett Fancy, Mark Flynn Rutter and Daniel Adegboyega also star in other roles. [4] While Jamie Wannell played Liam Carroll in Crowhurst's short film, he took on the role of a perpetrator in his feature film. [5]Sue Bell OBE said: "Paul Connolly’s story is one of hope. After experiencing years of extreme abuse at St Leonard’s children’s home, followed by years of gang-related violence in London, he turned his life around. Paul Connolly: Not Normal: The Uncensored Account of an Extraordinary True Life Story, 2018. ISBN 978-1-982908-71-3 He actually saved my life, the Father in charge of the children's home beat me to a pulp and it was a particularly bad beating. Read More Related Articles My most recent book, Not Normal, is the inspiration for Big Boys Don’t Cry and gave me an opportunity to tell even more of our story – especially on behalf of those who are no longer with us or who felt unable to speak up in the way I have.

Great friends and a loving heart transformed Paul’s world and he has gone on to help thousands of people as a specialist conditioning coach, sports injury expert, celebrity personal trainer, presenter and best selling author. Daniel O'Malley, a detective inspector who heads the continuing investigation, suggested that there could have been as many as 70 victims during those years. The home was made up of several dormitories where the children would sleep, with up to 12 beds in each building. Read More Related Articles One of his trainers threatened his house-father over Paul's abuse and the harrowing torture stopped.Big Boys Don’t Cry will be screening in the UK with special charity partners and is available on DVD from September 5. It is available to rent and buy on VOD from October 7. He then attended lessons to learn how to read and write in his 20s, because he felt it would aid his career as a boxer.