No Child of Mine (1997 film)
No Child of Mine is a 1997 British docudrama-television film on ITV starring Brooke Kinsella. It documents the true case of a girl named Kerry who was sexually abused throughout her childhood.[1]
Plot
13-year-old 6th grader Kerry (played by Brooke Kinsella), whose last name is not disclosed for safety reasons, endures problems at home with her parents fighting each other and eventually separating. Shortly after, her mother's new boyfriend moves in with them and begins physically and sexually abusing her. Her mother also occasionally takes part in the abuse. Kerry's father, Jim (played by Bill Geraghty), a construction worker, attempts to force her into prostitution, something she is unaware of until a few truck drivers "borrow" her.
Kerry's situation worsens at home, which makes her tormentor and abusive mother named Linda (played by Sharon Small) that Kerry and Jim lived with for 13 years and who abuses Kerry, Linda's boyfriend, and Jim (who abused Linda and Linda's boyfriend for being abusive) jealous and includes her sexual and physical abuse at the hands of her mother and her mother's boyfriend, she avoids returning home. One of her class teachers suddenly becomes aware of her situation and attempts to have her placed in childcare. The class teacher, social workers and friends attempt to file charges of sexual and physical abuse on behalf of Kerry against her mother's boyfriend. However, the crown prosecution later declines to continue the case, arguing there is not enough legal evidence to support the allegations. Kerry is placed into foster care, but her over-reactions cause her to damage and destroy property as well as create messes, making it impossible for the foster family to keep her.
Kerry is then placed into a childcare home. During her time in childcare Kerry continues to endure sexual abuse. She is seduced by a pimp and for some time willingly leases herself for profit. A social worker in the childcare home also begins to sexually abuse her. Feeling helpless, Kerry frequently visits her class teacher and tries to move in with him, but he is unable to care for her. He consults his friend and child support agent to have Kerry placed somewhere else where she'll be safer, but her case cannot be given anymore priority than other children.
Towards the end of the film, Kerry runs away and finds a smaller and more expensive childcare home in rural Britain. They decline her money, which she obtained by prostituting herself. Kerry does not speak for her first few days at the care, suffering from trauma. Later on as she begins to trust the people at the childcare, she begins to reveal her story.[2][3]
References
- ↑ "'I felt alone, dirty and guilty'". tes.co.uk.
- ↑ "Can't watch, must watch". Suzanne Moore. The Independent. 23 October 2011.
- ↑ No Child of Mine (1997 film)