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I Never Gave My Consent: A Schoolgirl's Life Inside the Telford Sex Ring

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In 2013, a series of high-profile court cases sent shockwaves through the West Midlands town of Telford. Seven men, all from the town’s Pakistani heritage community, were jailed for selling vulnerable young girls for sex. The convictions made national news, but for one girl the chilling headlines were all too real.


Holly Archer was just fourteen when her life changed forever after becoming embroiled in a frightening web of exploitation and abuse. Enduring countless violent rapes and death threats, she was forced to sleep with several men a night. As her abusers’ grip tightened, she fell into despair, twice becoming pregnant. Hours after her last GCSE exam, she took an overdose in a desperate attempt to end the nightmare that had become her life.

Her escape eventually came when, old enough to leave home, she fled to Birmingham. She moved house every six months, fearing her abusers would hunt her down. She eventually found the strength to return to Telford shortly after giving birth to a daughter, around the same time the police launched an investigation into the exploitation of young girls in the town. She underwent hours of rigorous police interviews but in the end decided she could not face her abusers in court.

Nonetheless, seven men were convicted of sex offences and jailed as a result of the investigation. Holly slowly began to pick up the pieces of her life and was given a job with a rape prevention charity. Having survived her ordeal, she now tells her full, shocking story for the first time.

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2016

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484 people want to read

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Holly Archer

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
Profile Image for Connie.
70 reviews5 followers
November 26, 2016
I'm from Telford, an have lived here my 27 years...let's just say, you'll never look at Wellington/The Wrekin/Telford the same way again. The same goes to the Asian men, the curry shops, Pizza delivery places, etc...but again, you can't paint them all with the same brush.
They don't all trick young girls into sex...then promise them everything before owning them and selling them on.

I'm finding it shocking how people are refusing to believe that this actually happened, has happened for many many years and is still happening today and not just in Telford but everywhere open your eyes people. we need to raise awareness, and I know it will never stop, but at least let's all pull together and make people see that it's happening, and let those who are being abused know they have support and that they are BELIEVED.

Holly Archer well done for writing your story, I know how hard it must of been for you to have to re-live it all.

no matter where I read reviews there will always be someone who blames Holly or doesn't believe what they're reading, if that's the case then please, pass your copy of the book onto someone else, a teenage girl/boy if possible, so then those who are interested can help break the silence on Child-Hood Sexual Abuse and RAPE...
182 reviews10 followers
April 4, 2020
This book was heartbreaking. From start to finish it made me so angry that so many people took advantage of her. It’s also scary because no doubt this is still happening to others around the world. This was a shocking read but I applaud holly’s bravery about sharing her story. Hopefully it helps others if they are in that situation.
Profile Image for Stephen.
2,176 reviews464 followers
June 18, 2021
a woman recollections of being abused as a young woman by a gang of groomers in Telford
Profile Image for Daisy.
3 reviews1 follower
September 5, 2016
I just finished this book in one sitting (go me)
88 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2016
Mixed reaction to this book

An honest account of the authors sexual behaviour in her early teens which in turn led to her being used for the purpose of prostitution . Perhaps being honest has led to the mixed reaction I feel regarding this book . Although she was a child she did initially agree to sex with men for money at the time she was 13/14 years old , crafty enough to hide her earnings from her mother under the floorboards and enough sense to have a password on her mobile phone and keep it on silent so not to arouse suspicion . I suspect that when these men began to show a sinister and violent side to their characters , threatening blackmail and expecting her to have multiple partners to line their pockets that this girl realized the dreadful mess she had gotten herself into . Pleased to see sentences imposed on her perpetrators and it's a pity that some of them slipped through the net .However , there is an age of criminal responsibility and I don't think the author can use the excuse of being a young girl of not knowing she was not to have sex with men . She knew it was wrong she was a teenager not a young child.
Profile Image for Kirstie Cooper.
598 reviews17 followers
June 19, 2023
I find it weird to say that I 'enjoyed' reading a book like this as it feels so wrong.
This girls story was to do with the Telford trafficking/abuse ring.
When I read this I felt like I had heard it before so not sure maybe if there has been a documentary on the TV about it, which I have previously seen.
Regardless, it was a very honest book - it made me feel so many times emotions it was ridiculous - angry, sad, disbelief, disgust, and even frustration.
It was easy to read in the sense, that it didn't have lots of history involved so it was quite a modern and up to date account of everything.
If you like reading true life books like this, I would recommend.
Profile Image for Tina V.
49 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2021
A candid and sometimes difficult story to read. A first hand account of Holly Archer about the Telford Sex ring.

I felt such a range of emotions reading this book. Happy, sad, disgusted, disappointed, angry. It's a rollercoaster for sure.

I wouldn't say it's the best written book but I got it for the content, not the style. I felt it important to understand the dangers that remain out there to young people and maybe how to try and spot something that just isn't right.

I hope Holly continues to educate others about her horrendous start in life at the hands of the disgusting perps. If the sharing of her story stops at least a handful of cases like this continuing she will have done an amazing job 👏 ❤
Profile Image for Naomi Fisher.
15 reviews
June 4, 2022
Great, detailed book. Really makes you think about it. From my home town so it’s easy to picture the areas, which is shocking
Profile Image for Laura Grant.
21 reviews
March 19, 2023
Disturbing insight into how seemingly easy teenage girls were coerced into prostitution. An uncomfortable, gritty read
Profile Image for Christina Louise Allen.
32 reviews
November 21, 2017
I have a strong stomach, and at times, I felt sick with what I was reading.

The perpetrators are absolutely evil. I also feel as though I've lost faith in the justice system, as they clearly turned a blind eye to it when it was happening. Nobody should ever experience what Holly did.

A truly horrific story, although so bravely told in this book. I applaud Holly for having copious amounts of strength to tell her story, and becoming a strong woman, with a career and a family of her own. An inspirational survivor of a horrific case.
Profile Image for Tembela Paqula.
7 reviews
October 22, 2025
Overview

I Never Gave My Consent is a powerful and deeply moving account that brings to light the often-silenced experiences of sexual abuse and the long-term impact it has on survivors. Through raw honesty and emotional storytelling, the author explores the pain of having one’s autonomy violated and the lifelong journey toward reclaiming voice, dignity, and self-worth.

The narrative not only tells a personal story but also situates it within a broader social and legal context—challenging societal attitudes that enable gender-based violence and victim-blaming. The title itself, I Never Gave My Consent, captures the central message: consent must be explicit, respected, and understood as a fundamental human right.

Content and Structure

The book unfolds in a first-person voice, allowing readers to enter the author’s internal world—the confusion, fear, shame, and gradual empowerment. The storytelling alternates between past and present, creating a reflective tone that highlights the process of healing.
It also draws attention to how institutions—family, law enforcement, schools, and the legal system—often fail survivors. The author’s persistence to be heard underscores the resilience required to seek justice.

Themes and Analysis

Consent and Autonomy:
The book educates readers about the meaning of consent, debunking myths that surround sexual relations and victim behaviour. It exposes how cultural norms and power imbalances obscure the issue of consent.

Trauma and Healing:
The story reflects on the long journey of recovery, showing that healing is neither linear nor easy. The author’s vulnerability becomes a source of strength, inspiring empathy and awareness.

Social Responsibility:
By recounting personal experiences, the book calls on society to listen, believe, and support survivors. It advocates for stronger legal frameworks, education on consent, and the dismantling of stigma.

Style and Tone

The writing is emotional yet measured, intimate yet courageous. The tone shifts from anguish to empowerment, drawing readers into a shared moral and emotional space. The author’s candour and attention to detail make the narrative both personal and universally relevant.

Evaluation

I Never Gave My Consent is not an easy book to read—but it is an essential one. It humanizes statistics about sexual violence and gives a face and voice to survivors who are too often silenced. Its greatest strength lies in its honesty and educational value; it challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths and reflect on how society defines and respects consent.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I Never Gave My Consent stands as a vital contribution to conversations about sexual violence, consent, and justice. It is a courageous testament to survival and resilience. This book should be recommended reading for students, educators, policymakers, and anyone concerned with human rights and gender equality.

Would you like me to tailor the review to a specific author or edition (there are a few books with the same title), or should I keep it general as above?
Profile Image for Rebecca.
349 reviews3 followers
September 18, 2020
Many children’s initial entry into the grooming gangs of Britain was facilitated by older men, however, in Holly’s case, entry to the world of grooming rings came via kids her own age - her phone number and other details were sold by a year 8 Pakistani boy to multiple adults who were pedophiles. Having read a number of books written by victims of the British child exploitation grooming rings I have often asked myself how these monsters are made. Holly’s book went part way into answering that - the many teenage boys she wrote about behaved disgracefully, already disrespectful towards females combined with a sense of entitlement. Clearly this disregard of females is something deeply ingrained in their upbringing. Many of them grew up to traffic and rape young girls themselves. It was the actions of some of these young boys that gave me the most jaw dropping moments in the book.
The ease at which Holly was lead into this sickening world was surprising to me - It makes zero sense to an adult but gives some insight into how some kids minds work. Hers is a horrible story, yet she manages to give depth to the figures in the book so you can see them and smell them. She has been successful in writing as if she is still a child and so, it also takes the reader back to their own schooldays even if the circumstances were Very different for them.
Sadly some of Holly’s abusers walk the street today and despite her not wanting to press charges and go through a court case, and fears for her safety, I can’t help thinking wouldn’t the police have a whole new case, and children they could save if they were to put surveillance on these men now, because surely they are still doing this today?
Holly writes a very sad and tragic memoir of her childhood. There are lessons to be learned here.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
209 reviews4 followers
July 12, 2017
This was quite tough to read. Certainly at the end I was crying. It certainly makes you feel a range of emotions. Anger being one of them. Some of the monsters that did what they did have not paid the price and that bothers me hugely. Mind you I was raped at 17 having never slept with anyone before and due to knowing what they do to victims in court I never reported it.
So I understand holly's fear of not being believed. I'm sorry for what she had to go through and having worked as a nurse for ten years (followed by the prison service then the police so I've seen all kinds of evil!) I am gob smacked she is still alive after that amount of paracetamol went into her system. She is lucky she isn't a living vegetable.

Things happen for a reason and there's a reason she survived that suicide attempt! I don't doubt her work with the victims of today is invaluable! Well done for speaking out with your blog and your book! Those monsters will pay some day if it isn't today! I do know though that I would remind them every time I passed them on the street, one word to the police and it's all over for them. I'd take great pleasure in doing so with a simply sentence every time they passed me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ashley Robinson.
1 review
August 3, 2020
This story is touching from start to finish. It delves into the sensitive topics of rape and sex trafficking of young girls from the perspective of a victim (Holly Archer). it is powerful in educating on a topic that society is surprisingly quite ignorant to. The book clearly advocates for the importance of education towards venerable individuals by exploring the consequences of society’s ignorance surrounding sexual abuse.

It also touches on other important subjects such as the negative effects of poor practice within the law enforcement and clinical sectors of work. It shows how their failures within the story acted as an enabler for abuse/rape to continue. The book also empowers victims of abuse with independence and comforts them by showing how Holly’s prior abuse did not limit her future and she was able to overcome it and now lives a good life.

100% recommend great read and important messages.
77 reviews
January 21, 2019
This is a very sad story of how easy it is for a young child to be sucked into a sex ring. She is groomed and mistakes the grooming for attention. Her mother having remarried and having had 2 small children and working somehow misses all the signs of abuse . Holly frightened of the threats these men make to hurt her family if she confesses suffers in silence all the time wishing her mother will save her from the terrible traumas she is under going.
It is not easy reading how Holly suffers. This should be a book children in school should read to protect them and parents also knowing to protect their daughters from harm
Profile Image for Vikkie.
520 reviews36 followers
December 13, 2020
This book has been heartbreaking from start to finish. I’ve felt so angry for poor Holly, this little girl was failed by all around her- those who cared for her missed all the signs of what was going on and she endured things no teenage girl should go through! I hate to think that this is still taking place around the world! This harrowing story of Holly, shows that often girls are drawn in by those who are the same age. This is one of those books that are difficult to read, but impossible to put down. However, it is a book that shows the traumatic experiences of a young girl.

Trigger warnings: Violence, Rape, Grooming.
23 reviews
January 7, 2021
I never gave my consent

Fairly good read and I do feel pity for the girl and what happened to her, I feel it could easily happen to anyone, you're so easily manipulated when ur young. I really didnt like how she talked about her best friend, we'll sí called Best friend, she called her fat and desbribed how big she was in every chapter, I felt more than a hint of malice there that I didn't like, I wouldnt like to be the friend reading the book, I felt it wasn't relivant and she had some kind of vendetta against this girl so it made me dislike the author but I do feel sorry for what she went through.
Profile Image for Georgina Abbotts.
330 reviews2 followers
April 5, 2022
A compelling read of a first hand account of one teenagers experience of this world of grooming and the most horrific abuse.this book is a true story its based in the town I live in and very close to some of the areas that the abuse took place in Holly is a very brave individual who shared her horrific experience of abuse.Most people believe that these girls are from vunrable backgrounds but as Holly says she had a great childhood it makes you sit and think if it can happen to holly it can happen to anyone.even if the children had great childhoods Holly is an extremely inspiring girl and is helping others come forward no matter how long ago the abuse happend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
14 reviews
August 2, 2024
An utterly harrowing read but bravely attested by the author's first-hand experiences. A book that one could only wish never needed to be written which exposes the extreme exploitation and depravity which some humans will go to for sexual gratification and money making. Anyone will doubtless hope that they manage to protect their own loved ones from such evil beings who frequent our communities. The eye-opener of this book is how seemingly easy it was for them to groom the children and the fear which they instilled so early on in the process, making the victims feel that they had no choice but to comply. A gut-wrenching read, very well compiled.
Profile Image for CarolynBill Cooper.
26 reviews
November 2, 2017
This was a harrowing read but riveting reading nonetheless. Poor Holly really went through horrendous experiences at the hands of these uncaring pimps and at only 14! How could these men abuse young girls like this? I despair for the world sometimes and the way men can behave. I hope time in prison gives them an eduation about respect for all human beings but I won't hold my breath. Hope Holly has the good life she deserves now and that her self esteem grows and that she can move away from this terrible abuse.
Profile Image for Lacey Warren.
14 reviews
August 2, 2018
A very honest account of a truly awful situation. I admire the bravery of Holly to tell her story, and I hope it gives hope to others like her that there is a way out and it helps them to come forward.

I especially love how her experiences haven't clouded her judgement of an entire Religion and how she continues to hold her head high and not put the blame on people who had nothing to do with what happened to her purely because of where they come from.

An extremely amazing lady, and very well written, although very hard to read at times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
8 reviews
September 21, 2018
This was the first autobiography I've read and I loved it. If you can stomach the subjects that go on in the book like rape then you will find this an easy read because the language wasn't complex and it was very to the point which did get a bit tedious after a while, I which she when more in to the detail of being in the sex ring but Archer does mention that she was quite young and oblivious to extent of it. All in all i found it really interesting to learn about someone experience in a sex ring scandle.
Profile Image for theresa pearson.
8 reviews
May 18, 2017
Compelling true story

From the moment I started to read this book, I could hardly put it down. It was horrific reading it and what made it worse was that it was all true. They remarkable strength and resilience that Holly has shown not only through what has happened to her but to them to on and relive it again to write this book. Wow I am in awe of this wonderful person. I hope Holly gets the life she deserves.
Profile Image for Youssouf Kamil.
15 reviews
January 26, 2019
I couldn't believe it was based on true life Experiences until the end... i was like this is Fiction. Apparently the Author demonstrates it's true life Experiences, no matter what race or religion all most all men have one thing
in common and that's takeing advantage of Women... but this is werd 14 year old
girl and they claimed to be Muslims. Islam is pure and perfect but There are always some Savage Muslim individuals as there are same folks in any religion or race.
29 reviews
April 21, 2019
An important testimony which needs to be read

Holly shares the horrific suffering she went through as she explains the systematic grooming and escalating abuse she endured. This book should be read as a tribute to her courage and as an exposure of the horrendous abuse occurring in Telford. She is inspirational in her survival and work to help others who are survivors of sexual abuse.
Profile Image for Beverly Copson.
16 reviews
September 9, 2020
What an eye opening read. One minute I felt like shouting at the author, telling her to stop. Then realising she didn’t really have any choice but to continue due to the fear of reprisals. To now know, that just because that most of the men involved have been caught and punished, that other men have filled the gap and other young girls are in exactly the same position as Holly. My heart goes out to her.
5 reviews
August 3, 2019
Really insightful into the sick ordeal she had to go through. Really brave that she talked about what she went through. Definitely educationally into the sick act these men did, it would make people aware to see if they are in a situation like this to tell people and to not hide away. Definitely recommend!!
Profile Image for Jo Osborne.
Author 4 books20 followers
August 3, 2020
A very harrowing account of the evil that is right under our noses.

I want to believe that humans are inherently good and the evil people are few and far between, most likely that is true but sometimes those evil people are so extreme that it beggars belief that they managed to carry on undetected for so long.

22 reviews
September 26, 2022
I have read this book previously a few years back and again just there, and nonetheless think it’s an astounding, powerful and emotional story of young girls being exploited and exposed to things they never should have. And their innocence taken from them ever so young and robbed of their best and most innocent years😪
Profile Image for erian reads.
60 reviews1 follower
December 21, 2023
One of my favorite lines I annotated in this book was “We all face our battles in different ways and, until you’ve walked a mile in our shoes, you can’t possibly say how you’d deal with what we’ve been through.” I can’t count how many exactly the annotated phrases I’ve done with this book. It was well written. I loved the story and how it goes. ❤️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews

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