It is abuse when an older and more experienced person grooms a teenager for sexual intercourse. The grooming starts with gaining the victim’s trust. The groomer gives the victim gifts and money, compliments them and showers them with attention, shares secrets with them and builds rapport. The communication is kept secret, which is how the victim is isolated.

Grooming can happen in person or online, to children or youth. Grooming can also be used on young people and adults in vulnerable situations.

"I did not for a moment think something like this could ever happen to my kid, but it did, despite my vigilance. This is my daughter’s story.

When an older person uses deceit or gifts to groom a teenager or a vulnerable person to perform sexual acts, it is called grooming. Grooming is abuse and is illegal.

Ingvar is a 13 years old boy who loves to play basketball. His new coach is energetic and youthful even though he’s over 30...

Ingvar is a 13 years old boy who loves to play basketball. His new coach is energetic and youthful even though he is over 30. The coach sometimes invites the boys to his house after practice to watch basketball movies. One time, Ingvar is the only one who shows up. The coach compliments him and admits that Ingvar is his favourite.

After that, they start meeting alone and become good friends without anyone else knowing. Keeping this a secret makes Ingvar grow distant from his friends an family. The coach gives him clothes and alcohol and some times massages him after practice. One time they watch porn together and it ends in sexual intercourse. Ingvar finds all of this exciting but something about it still bothers him. He has no one to talk to because he’s lost touch with friends and family.

Ingvar

Is this abuse?