Therefore, abuse of preschool children is difficult to detect

The Ljusdal pedophile worked at a preschool and sexually abused nine little girls.
The assaults were carried out over a period of six years.
– It is unfortunately quite common that it takes so long to discover, says Anna Norlén, psychologist at the Erica Foundation, in Efter fem.

The alleged pedophile was a man in his 30s, but because he died shortly after the police search, no charges will be brought.

The tip about the man came to the police in 2022, but it remained dormant for almost a year, as TV4 Nyheterna reported on Friday.

Ljusdal municipality has further confirmed themselves that they have received comments and complaints regarding the man.

Lasted for six years

The exposed girls were between one and three years old at the time of the abuse.

The assaults took place while the man worked at preschools between the years 2018 and 2024.

– Unfortunately, it is quite common that it takes this long to discover. And it often has to do with the fact that the perpetrator is also a person who is well-liked, good with children and who is appreciated by children, parents and colleagues, says Anna Norlén, psychologist at the Erica Foundation with extensive experience of working with abuse of children in a pre-school environment, in After five.

Manipulating the children

She further says that perpetrators can spend a lot of time getting to know the children and manipulating them before they start their abuse.

– And then the abuse often takes place in a way that the child can perceive as a kind of play. So when it comes to the abuse of young children, it is common that the abuse is not done in a way that frightens them. They may think it strange or strange but it is not at all certain that it is something as full of horror as one might imagine, and then it is not certain that children will tell what has happened.

When asked if a parent should still tell the child what they have been through, she answers:

– I think that when it is revealed, we need to talk to children about it, in a way that is adapted to their age.