Since the publication of the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s files, we have seen evidence of the most appalling sex trafficking and abuse of vast numbers of innocent young girls.

It is gratifying that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has finally been arrested, but also frustrating that this was on the grounds of his potentially having passed on state secrets and confidential information onto others which amounts to misconduct in public office. A police investigation is ongoing and I am hopeful that they will uncover firm evidence of his involvement in sex trafficking. Yes, he continually denies any wrongdoing but 12 million pounds is a lot of money to pay to a person he denies ever having met.

When I heard the news last Thursday about Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s arrest I was initially delighted but then felt very sad as Virginia Giufre would not be able to witness this moment.

Having read Virginia Giufre’s book ‘Nobody’s Girl’ I was so impressed by her tenacity, strength and determination to bring certain people to justice. She fought and fought, despite being continuously branded a liar, receiving many death threats (it is claimed that she committed suicide but I wonder?) and did so much to try to get justice for the victims of Epstein’s sex trafficking empire. We now know that the photo of her with Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Ghilaine Maxwell is absolutely not a fake, despite many claiming it to be so at the time.

Both the King and Prince William have issued bland PR statements about their thoughts being with the victims but one wonders how sincere this is, given that Andrew’s behaviour was flagged up many times over the years. It is only now that the Epstein files have finally been released that they have come forward and made these statements. They have had to, in order to save their own skin.

Sadly I have seen many clients over the years who have been victims of abuse, whether it be physical, psychological or sexual and there are some key issues that we have to recognise in these cases.

At the root of this abuse there is usually a perpetrator with a desire to exert power and control over his or her victims. They also tend to put all the ‘blame’ on the victims, for example in the Epstein case the girls are seen as cheap, money grabbing and promiscuous, sometimes people say ‘they were asking for it’ but also in many cases they are just unimportant pawns, easily used and forgotten. An amusement, a toy which can be discarded and then a new one found.

However, the most important thing to mention in abuse cases is the effect on the victims. If you read Virginia Giufre’s book you will begin to understand how this poor woman was affected psychologically. Although she did try to make a new life for herself, with a loving husband and three children, she continued to be haunted by the appalling things that had happened to her in her younger life. Whether she did indeed take her own life, we cannot say for sure, but it is clear that she was battling demons up till the end.

As well as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, there are still very many rich and powerful men who need to be brought to justice. If this were to happen it would go some way to allowing a bit of closure for the victims.

However, it would never take away all their pain.

Wendy.