Home / Crime and Justice / Survivors Unite to Topple Their Abuser
Survivors Unite to Topple Their Abuser
13 May
Summary
- Three women formed a strong bond after their attacker was convicted.
- Their collective testimony led to the conviction of their abuser.
- A documentary highlights their journey of healing and empowerment.
Three women in their 40s and 50s have forged an unbreakable bond after witnessing their attacker's conviction. Laura Hughes, Lauren Preston, and Mary Sharp, who were all victims of Martin Butler decades ago, now share a WhatsApp group called Sister Solidarity.
Butler, who groomed and coerced them on their London estate, is serving a lengthy sentence for rape and buggery. His conviction followed historic charges, bolstered by the women's evidence of abuse suffered in the 1980s and 1990s.
An initial Guardian article in February 2023 detailed their first meeting post-conviction. This has now inspired a Channel 4 documentary, highlighting how their shared experiences and mutual support have been crucial for healing.
Preston and Hughes had reported Butler years prior without success. A 2018 Facebook appeal by Hughes seeking other victims prompted Sharp to come forward, fearing Butler might kill someone.
Despite facing significant obstacles and repeated rejections from the Crown Prosecution Service, Sharp's persistence, driven by the near-fatal abuse she endured, eventually led to Butler's trial.
Seeing Butler jailed provided immense relief, yet the women acknowledge the deep, lasting scars of their trauma. Preston experienced agoraphobia, while Hughes faced unhealthy relationships, and Sharp's artistic career was impacted for decades.
The journey to recovery is ongoing, marked by "wobbly moments." However, their solidarity has enabled them to reclaim their lives and find strength, allowing Hughes to feel she has "freed my childhood self" and Preston to hold her head up higher.
