A UK charity has revealed that nearly 5,000 disabled British adults have been sexually abused across England in the past two years.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said Monday that data collected from 106 councils showed 4,748 reports of sex abuse against disabled adults in the financial years 2013-14 and 2014-15, up to February 16, 2015.
Almost two-thirds, or 63%, of the cases were against victims with learning difficulties and 37% were against those with physical disabilities.
The charity said the reported cases are the “visible peak” of what could be a much larger problem.
“We know with sexual abuse that many victims find it difficult to speak out,” said Jon Brown, with the NSPCC.
According to Brown, research has shown that “disabled children and young people are three or four times more likely to be abused and neglected than children and young people who are not disabled.”