BRAVE victims of sexual violence told their harrowing stories at a major conference held in Poole.

More than 1,000 people attended the event at the town’s Lighthouse theatre on Thursday which included talks from community leaders, police officers and high profile national campaigners.

Organised by the Safer Poole Partnership, the conference began with a moving film with contributions from survivors recounting their own disturbing experiences.

Dorset Police’s assistant chief constable, David Lewis, said the purpose of the event was to challenge attitudes normalising sexual violence.

After reading a quote from popular erotic novel 50 Shades of Grey, which referenced the lead character’s sexual partner being gagged, he said: “It just goes to show how control, coercion and sexual violence is normalised in many ways in society.

“Today is about tackling that, about not tolerating that and changing attitudes. No one should live their lives coerced and controlled or abused.”

One of the victims of abuse, who took to the stage holding placards with anti-sexual violence messages, said: “People seem to assume that if someone tried to rape them they fight them off and that would be that.

“In my case it was done by someone I trusted and came as a huge shock. When it happened I froze which allowed him to have his way.”

Poole council leader Elaine Atkinson said she hoped hearing such real life stories would help encourage victims to come forward, adding: “Rape and sexual violence happens everywhere, every minute of every day. It can affect anyone – male, female, young, old.”

Martyn Underhill, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “We have to change attitudes so that society can rid itself of this awful crime.”

Other speakers included Jennifer Holly from Against Violence and Abuse, Professor Liz Kelly, of End Violence Against Women Coalition, and TV presenter and campaigner Charlie Webster.

Ms Webster, who recounted her own experience of abuse as a teenager, said policy dealing with sexual violence needs to be updated.

She added: “We need guts and courage or we will continue to hear stories like mine for years and years and years to come.”