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The Boy in the Cellar

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The Boy in the Cellar

By: Stephen Smith
Narrated by: Oliver J. Hembrough
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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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Stephen Smith is the boy who did not exist.

Born out of wedlock in the early 1960s, Steve's parents hid him away from the world by locking him in the cellar...for thirteen years.

Starved and beaten, the little boy's world was a darkened room that measured just eight feet by ten with a single makeshift bed, bare light bulb, and a solitary table. Steve would spend his days conjuring up an imaginary world full of monsters he would draw to try and block out the physical and mental torture inflicted on him by his brutal father. Apart from a few admissions to hospital as a result of his 'imprisonment', Steve remained in the coal cellar of the family home where he was deprived of daylight, his childhood, school, and human contact until he'd reached his teenage years.

Eventually, he escaped only to fall prey to the instigators of two of the worst cases of institutional abuse in the UK at Aston Hall hospital and St. William's Catholic School.

The Boy in the Cellar is a horrifying true story of torture and cruelty, that reveals a human's full capacity to fight for survival and search out happiness and hope. Abuse Child Abuse Dysfunctional Families Dysfunctional Relationships Parenting & Families Relationships True Crime Emotionally Gripping Exciting Heartfelt Inspiring Scary Funny Nonfiction True
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This is one of the most shocking books of abuse I have ever read, but with the most amazing recovery and triumphant survival of any human being that had been subjected to such abuse could even begin to hope for... Stephen I am truly in awe of you.. what a remarkable Surviver , fantastically inspiring book , thankyou for sharing your horror of the first part of your life so honestly , and your strength to overcome and achieve the wonderful life you have today 😘 . Highly recommended Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Highly recommended ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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sad but shows that the strength of this man is mindblowing he's a real inspiration to me and being from Derbyshire myself wish I could meet this man..thanks Lisa hessey

brilliant

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This is the true story of Stephen Smith, who not only suffered abuse at the hands of his father and was denied a childhood, but when rescued and taken from his parents the abuse intensifies further at the hands of so called professionals who were responsible for his care and Wellbeing; not only of Stephen but hundreds of vulnerable young children, who they took behind closed doors and committed unimaginable crimes of abuse at the hands of doctors and nurses. This is an important read not only for survivors of abuse, but everyone so that these survivors know we have heard them, listened to their stories. We must Learn that as adults we can not stay quiet, when we witness or suspect such atrocities involving any types of abuse, especially against minors who do not have any ability to fight back or speak out. I am disgusted that only now in 2020 I am reading survivor stories of abuse that took place so long ago and still for some justice and acknowledgment has to be fought for when the evidence is overwhelming. Thank you to Stephen for sharing your story, none of this can have been easy. And certainly as a child you had no choice. But you overcame as much as you could. I cannot imagine the trauma will ever leave Stephen, but he is an amazing man, who has developed a life and world that he can be proud of. Furthermore he refuses to be seen as helpless even though his situation gave him no choice. The choice to share his story, art and music is now a privilege. See his interview on YouTube after reading this story. A difficult read yes but not his situation so we must read, respect acknowledge and try to form some understanding particularly if we work and care for children now.

A Compelling MUST Read

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I tried this audiobook on the off chance when browsing through. It’s absolutely brilliant. So well written and performed. At first the story seemed so outlandish I thought it must be fiction, but it’s not - and matches up to verified events. A shocking, baffling read - baffling in terms of the cruel depravities to which some people will descend, but also the institutional cruelties and abnegations of responsibility from those who might have stepped in.

Brilliant

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loved it he went through so much stuff nobody should never have to go through.

brilliant

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