New DVD highlights dangers of 'grooming' to teens

6:34pm Tuesday 11th March 2008

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A DVD is being launched to educate youngsters about sexual exploitation.

The short film, 'But I thought he loved me', tells the story of two schoolgirls who meet an older man and are drawn into exploitation.

The storyline was devised by a group of young women from Blackburn Foyer, an organisation working with Engage.

Gemma Laing, 21, and Kayley Bell, 20, play two teenagers.

The DVD was filmed by pupils at Our Lady and St John RC high school, Blackburn and produced by Suzanne Hall, who teaches media studies at the school and is also an actress in Hollyoaks.

She plays Suzanne Ashworth, the middle-aged mother-of-three in the hit Channel 4 soap.

The DVD follows the girls as they are bombarded with text messages then offered drink and drugs in return for sex.

Eventually, one of the girls tells her key worker and they are referred to the Engage team for protection and support.

The film has been developed for Engage, but will be used by schools and youth groups across the area as part of an awareness raising programme.

Julie Wareing, chief executive of charity Brook, said: "We are delighted to be a partner in the Engage team, to provide support and prevention.

"The DVD is an important resource which we will be able to use in a variety of settings to raise awareness of this issue and help prevent young people from being drawn into sexual exploitation."