YOLANDE Trueman struggles to cope as she hides her sexual assault horror in EastEnders.
Last week, the church-goer was left sobbing on the floor after Pastor Clayton followed her into the kitchen during a charity fundraiser, locked the door and assaulted her.
Distraught Yolande ended up confiding in Elaine Peacock in the laundrette, saying: “The Pastor… I don’t know what to say… Not me… He grabbed me so tight and he put his hand where he had no right to put it.
“He put his hand down there and wouldn’t stop.”
But despite confiding in the Queen Vic landlady, upcoming EastEnders scenes will see Yolande struggle to cope with what happened and keeping it from her family.
An unsuspecting Patrick and Pastor Clayton insist she should continue practising her faith when she suggests not attending church for the foreseeable.
Later, Yolande is overcome with dread at attending prayer group and is further troubled after Pastor Clayton continues to invade her personal space.
Yolande returns home to a romantic evening Patrick has prepared but his loving advances are triggering and she rushes out leaving Patrick puzzled by her reaction, unaware of Pastor Clayton’s assault.
Last week’s episode highlighted that this wasn’t the first time the Pastor had sexually assaulted female members of his congregation.
Through flashbacks, another of his victims spoke to the church – and they covered up his abuse.
Further flashbacks showed how the police didn’t take reports of his sexual assaults seriously.
Yolande was terrified at the thought of even reporting him, so Elaine promised to support her no matter what.
But faced with the prospect of telling Patrick, Yolande couldn’t do it and asked Elaine to keep everything she had told her secret.
“I shouldn’t have told you, I shouldn’t have said anything,” Yolande said. “And I want you to do the same. Please, I’m begging you.”
Chris Clenshaw, Executive Producer of EastEnders, said of the storyline: “This is an important story that we hope will raise awareness of how women at any age can be groomed by someone in a position of power.
“It was vital for us to work alongside End Violence Against Women Coalition and Hourglass to truthfully present and sensitively portray Yolande’s sexual assault storyline.”
Sexual abuse in numbers
669,000 adults are sexually assaulted in England and Wales every year
- 1 in 5 women (8m) in the UK have been sexually abused
- 1 in 6 men (5m) in the UK have been sexually abused
- 1 in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused
Sexual abuse has been attributed to:
- 15% of all suicides in the UK
- 11% of all common mental health disorders in the UK
- 7% of alcohol dependence disorders
- 10% of drug dependence disorders
- 15% of eating disorders
- 17% of post-traumatic stress disorders
(Source: Safeline)
Andrea Simon, Director of End Violence Against Women Coalition, said the organisation was “proud” to work with EastEnders on “this important storyline.
Andrea added: “Sexual assault happens to women of all ages and backgrounds, but many find they aren’t believed or taken seriously. Older women, black women and others who are marginalised are at the sharp end of this, with huge consequences for their access to justice and support.
“TV shows can play a huge role in shifting attitudes across society. We hope this storyline helps dispel myths and stereotypes about what victims and survivors look like and how perpetrators behave, and ultimately increases understanding of sexual assault.”
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.