18 she was about fifteen she complained of nausea in the mornings. Her mother had her admitted to hospital where her appendix was removed. After the operation she was discovered to be pregnant and an abortion was carried out. The nurse told her she had been ‘very naughty’. Despite years of enforced sexual experience the plaintiff had no knowledge of how conception took place. [31] At that time the plaintiff was in standard 7 at school. She once again tried to tell her father that the defendant was responsible but it seemed to the plaintiff that he did not want to talk about it: ‘I don’t think he believed me’. [32] Although the defendant never touched the plaintiff again after the abortion and she ceased to stay over at his home, her life started to deteriorate. She lost interest in trying to succeed and, for the first time, failed at school. Her parents moved her to a new school. Having eventually progressed to standard 8, she failed that too. She passed at the second attempt and then left. She obtained employment in various menial positions but could not keep any job for long. [33] By the age of 21 the plaintiff was drinking heavily (and persisted in so doing until the year 2000). She had difficulty in getting on with others. About that age she began her first relationship. There were about three further relationships before she became the partner of Ms Potgieter. Despite some serious problems this association has endured for twenty years. All her relationships have been marred by alcohol and drug abuse and some degree of violence. [34] Her sexual relations with her various partners have always been inhibited and unsatisfying. Out of an unspoken fear of further abuse the plaintiff has made a