Lucy Fallon broke down in tears when she met the young woman who inspired her latest ‘Coronation Street’ storyline.
The 21-year-old actress’ character Bethany Platt, 16, has been groomed and sexually abused by her older boyfriend Nathan Curtis (Chris Harper) and raped by his friends and the young woman who inspired the story, shared her own experiences with Lucy.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the woman who is known only as Lucie, said: "Lucy Fallon cried when I met her. She was very emotional about my story and I think it hit home for her that what she’s doing is somebody’s reality."
And Lucie has worked with the NSPCC and ‘Coronation Street’ to raise awareness and try to prevent the same thing from happening to other young girls.
She said: "I would say to anyone who fears they are being groomed: just tell somebody, somebody you trust. Speak to a teacher, a friend, a friend’s parent – anybody will help you.
"I think, in reality, the abuser will never be able to carry out all the threats they’ve said they’re going to do, and actually they’re the ones in the wrong.
"When you’re in that situation, it’s difficult to understand that, but actually all the threats and manipulation will not come back on you as the person being abused – it will go back on the abuser.
"That’s why I’ve done this work with the NSPCC. Because if people don’t seek help then it’s stuck to them, and it’ll be with them forever. You need to speak out. You deserve to be safe."
Lucy Fallon broke down in tears over Corrie storyline
