Charlie Thompson, 28, has courageously waived her anonymity to share her harrowing story of abuse at the hands of her older brother, Andrew McQueen. The abuse began when she was just nine, and McQueen, then 11, repeatedly abused and assaulted her over a four-year period.
Growing up in Cirencester, Charlie endured years of torment in silence, manipulated by her brother’s threats that disclosure would tear the family apart. Despite a brief attempt to speak out at 13, fear and trauma forced her to retract her statement. The abuse only stopped when McQueen got a girlfriend at 15, though the physical violence continued.
Charlie’s mental health deteriorated during her teenage years, and she suffered in silence until December 2024, when a series of threatening messages from McQueen targeting her and her children prompted her to finally report him to police. In June this year, McQueen pleaded guilty to nine charges, including five counts of rape and two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration. He was sentenced to five years in prison and given a lifelong restraining order.
Charlie, now a mother of two, says the sentence felt like a “joke” but insists she no longer carries guilt or shame. She is using her voice to encourage other survivors to come forward and seek justice. “You will be believed,” she says. “Finally, I feel free and am able to work to heal myself.”
Her story sheds light on the long-lasting trauma of child abuse and the importance of support systems for survivors. Charlie hopes her bravery will inspire others to speak out and reclaim their lives.
