Robert has never met his father, being brought up by his mum and a string of her boyfriends who came and went through the first ten years of his life.

Often left to his own devices, Robert was "befriended" when he was 11-year-old by an older man, David, who he met at an amusement arcade.

Robert, not his real name, was attracted by the attention and interest David showed him. He went back to his house and was given cigarettes and booze. He soon became a frequent visitor and gradually David introduced him to heroin.

One evening he woke up in David's house, knowing that something was very wrong, and realised that he had been drugged and raped.

Although by this time he was in foster care, Robert did not tell anyone about the abuse, and he continued seeing David. He was passed around like some kind of trophy and was sexually abused by David's friends.

It was at this point that Robert, now increasingly dependent on heroin, started selling sex to strangers around public toilets and pick-up points.

He is 14 years of age and has just started to bring his younger brother to hang around with him. Bristol BASE has recently started working with Robert.

Used courtesy of the Bristol Evening Post