A RUGBY LEAGUE player who has shared his story of facing sexual abuse as a child has been inundated with messages of love and support – as he hopes his courage in coming forward will allow others to do the same.
Former Workington Town captain Jarrad Stack has been a leader in the field of rugby league in Cumbria since he moved to the county to play for Town in 2009.
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After seven seasons at Town, the 37-year-old moved to Barrow in 2017 and has played for the Raiders ever since as their skipper.
Last week, the rugby league player took to social media to share his story of suffering sexual abuse in his home country of Australia as an 11-year-old child.
When asked about speaking out and waiving his right to anonymity, the Australian-born rugby star said: “Ever since it happened, over the years, I have just thought, ‘if I can get some sort of justice’. I am at a point in my life where I wouldn’t be embarrassed or ashamed of what happened.
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“Over the years, speaking to a few people like my therapist, and going through the court system, I think it was only right for me to do this, so I could have the opportunity to help someone.
“Maybe if someone had told me at a younger age then I would have been able to come forward earlier.”
Mr Stack, who now serves as a police officer, said that he wished to tell his story to break the stigma – and encouraged others to come forward if they have been a victim of sexual abuse.
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“I am not saying I am a massive public figure,” he said. “But my name is out in the paper a bit playing for Workington and Barrow. A lot of people, when I have told them, have always been like ‘I can’t believe that would happen to you playing rugby and a police officer’. But it doesn’t matter who you are – these things happen”, he told the Times & Star.
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“Since I have put out the story, it’s been nice hearing that people are comfortable to come and speak to me, but it is horrible the amount it happens and the amount of people who keep it quiet – like I did for so long.”
When asked what he would say to anyone who may be suffering, Mr Stack added: “You have got to do what you feel comfortable with doing, and speak to someone, it doesn’t have to be your family.
“I think it’s just finding someone you’re comfortable with, telling someone. I have always known what I wanted to achieve. It may have taken a long time and I haven’t done it on my own, but I just spoke to the right person at the right time, they gave me the confidence to come forward.”
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Since he shared his story on his social media account last Wednesday, hundreds of people have reacted to the former Town captain, praising him for his bravery.
Speaking about the reaction, Mr Stack, who was part of then-US President Joe Biden’s security team for the Queen’s funeral, said: “It’s really heart warming. I think if I had said to that 11-year-old boy it happened to he wouldn’t have believed it.
“The messages have been the opposite to what I thought as a kid, but it’s very heart warming to feel so much love from a lot of strangers, as well as friends and family.
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“Hopefully, it’s had an impact and someone is looking and seeing these sort of messages and someone reaches out who has been affected. That is probably the big thing for me and why I did it.”
Australian newspaper The Herald Sun reported the abuser was sentenced in August to a two year community corrections order and ordered to perform 200 hours of community work.
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