Madeleine West revealed on Saturday her birth name is Melanie Ann and she changed it to escape painful memories of the sexual abuse she suffered as a child.
The former Neighbours star, 42, shared a childhood photo to Instagram of herself as a child at her fifth birthday party and captioned it with some confronting words.
She told her fans: ‘I was born Melanie Ann. Most of my life I’ve hated her…. I blamed her for some truly despicable things that happened to her – to me – when I was tiny.
Madeleine West (pictured) revealed on Saturday her birth name is Melanie Ann and she changed it to escape painful memories of child abuse
‘Little Melanie was told it was her fault. And I believed it. I ran from Melanie as hard and as fast and as far as I could… so far I even changed my name,’ she added.
‘My full story is not yet ready for the telling, but justice will be served. I’ve joined forces with former detective Gary Jubelin, in a crusade to stop the rot.’
The mother-of-six announced she will be co-hosting a true crime podcast with Jubelin called Predatory, which will serve as a ‘checklist’ for parents on how to spot predatory behaviour towards children.
The former Neighbours star, 42, shared a childhood photo to Instagram of herself as a child at her fifth birthday party and captioned it with some confronting words
‘We love true crime stories, yet despite having one of the highest rates of victims, and the lowest rates of convictions, we refuse to discuss the predation of children playing out, hidden in plain sight.
‘Because frankly, most of us don’t know what to look for. It’s a fact I’ve learned the hard way,’ she added.
Madeleine reveals in her podcast’s confronting first episode it is extremely difficult for sexual abuse victims to find the courage to speak out.
She told her fans: ‘I was born Melanie Ann. Most of my life I’ve hated her…. I blamed her for some truly despicable things that happened to her – to me – when I was tiny’. Pictured: Madeleine with podcast co-host Gary Jubelin
‘You worry people will see you as deficit. The thing I find disturbing is how little I was,’ she tells her co-host Gary.
In the first episode Madeleine tearfully reveals she was just five-years-old when the abuse started and it lasted for five years.
She said: ‘I knew from the beginning it wasn’t right. I think everyone does. What’s so concerning is people keep looking away.’
‘My full story is not yet ready for the telling, but justice will be served. I’ve joined forces with former detective Gary Jubelin, in a crusade to stop the rot,’ she said
The actress has now gone public with her story after keeping it a secret for decades so she can help others who are suffering.
She claimed she was sexually abused as a child by a ‘monster’ and started the true crime podcast to raise awareness of the difficult issue.
Madeleine has told how the alleged abuser lived in the same town as her and that the abuse was regular – sometimes even daily. She revealed no other details of the attack and has not named the alleged abuser.
She told The Sun of the alleged abuse: ‘This monster ruined my life. I’ve come out the other side, yes a survivor but happy to own the title of victim.
The mother-of-six told her fans her podcast will serve as a ‘checklist’ for parents on how to spot predatory behaviour towards children
‘Justice can be achieved. It was never, and never will be, your fault, you are not to blame.’
‘I’m now seeking justice. Anyone out there who is posting, watching or hurting a child, your time is up. The wheel is turning.’
The star is also calling for a national public child sex register in Australia and will campaign for changes to laws to fairly compensate victims.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
The star is calling for a national public child sex register in Australia and will campaign for changes to laws to fairly compensate victims
