Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A YOUNG boy’s heartbreaking letter to Santa is the focus of a major Christmas campaign to highlight the impact of domestic abuse on kids.

While most children were wishing for toys and gadgets, all nine-year-old Ben asked for was “the violence to stop”.

The youngster’s devastating letter to Santa begging for an end to the violence that blighted his childhood will touch the hearts of every parent.

The charity Children 1st hope it will highlight the horrors endured by Ben and thousands of other kids in Scotland at Christmas – and all year round.

They teamed up with the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit to launch the “Letter to Santa” domestic abuse awareness campaign yesterday.

And they revealed that, last Christmas and New Year, domestic violence rocketed to 9812 incidents compared with 7942 the previous year.

Ben’s letter was one of a series of pieces of writing he was encouraged to do to help him get over his horrifying experiences after he and his mum finally fled his brutal father and went to Children 1st looking for help.

The letter read: “Dear Santa, some people want a phone or a computer for Christmas. Well, all I want for Christmas is for the violence to stop.”

The schoolboy, whose name has been changed, suffered years of torment with his violent and abusive dad, who became worse when he had a drink at Christmas.

His family never celebrated Christmas at all because it was easier for them to pretend that nothing special was happening.

Eventually, Ben and his mum escaped the family home and went to stay with a relative.

When he first went to Children 1st, Ben was very withdrawn. But, over time and encouraged by his support worker, he opened up about his experiences.

Children 1st – previously known as the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children – also released letters written by other children who have faced the nightmare of violence in their own homes.

One poignant document is a child’s “worry list”, which begins: “I am worried about dad hitting me or shouting at me.”

Another pleads: “Please help children like me. Don’t ignore what’s going on behind closed doors.”

As well as raising awareness, the campaign is trying to encourage anyone worried about a child experiencing violence this Christmas to contact ParentLine Scotland on 0800 028 2233 or at parentlinescotland@children1st.org.uk.

Alison Todd, of Children 1st, said: “Christmas should be a time of year that every child looks forward to. But when there is violence in the home, it is often a time that children fear.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to protect Scotland’s children, so please get in touch with ParentLine if you are concerned about a child.”

Chief Inspector Graham Goulden, who heads the anti-violence campaign on behalf of the VRU, said: “We know Christmas is a peak period for domestic abuse incidents.

“Children in homes where these things happen are often witnesses to the abuse and therefore victims, too.

“The impact of that can stay with them their whole lives and potentially affect their relationship with their own children through things like depression, low self worth and a range of other issues.”

Meanwhile, with Children 1st’s support, Ben is now starting to move on.

Following his last session, he told his support worker that, for the very first time in his young life, he is looking forward to Christmas.

His letter to Santa will be very different this year.