Crossing the Line: the role of porn in sexual abuse

Interview with Michael Sheath

Crossing the Line: the role of porn in sexual abuse

08.05.25

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TRIGGER WARNING:  

This episode is about child sexual abuse and covers subjects which might be seriously distressing for some listeners, including mention of suicide, sexual assault, child sexual abuse material and torture. Please use your discretion. If you are in any need of help or support, please contact one of your country’s sexual abuse support organisations – they are there for you.  

We are dedicating our 100th episode to the work of the phenomenal Michael Sheath. We had a really important conversation with Michael that – amongst other things – covered the need to call out the relationship of online pornography with sexual offending. 

Since 1987, Michael has been dedicated to working with child sexual abuse offenders, beginning his journey as a probation officer and later becoming the Principal Practitioner at The Lucy Faithfull Foundation – a charity devoted to preventing child sexual abuse. His critically acclaimed work with male survivors of sexual abuse at HMP Blakenhurst earned him the prestigious Butler Trust Award in 1997. 

Michael’s passion for understanding people's stories has resulted in a powerful and significant book. A collection of five theatrical monologues that delves into the human impacts of child sexual abuse, trauma, and the often-overlooked effects on secondary victims like the families of offenders. All these narratives are told from the perspective of those directly affected.  

Michael's own story is pretty compelling. In this episode, you'll hear from him about his very impactful work in a profound conversation that shines a light on this ever-critical issue. 

 In this episode, we cover:  

• Michael Sheath’s journey into working with child sexual abuse offenders 

• The difference between contact offenders and online/download offenders 

• How pornography shapes harmful sexual behaviours 

• The link between online pornography and child sexual abuse 

• How sex offenders feel about their behaviour 

• The psychological impact of this work on professionals – and how they deal with it 

• Michael’s book, ‘Crossing the Line’ 

Michael’s book, ‘Crossing the Line’ is available to buy through Amazon UK.

You can also buy it directly from the publisher, Aspect Design.

All proceeds will go towards Children Heard and Seen, a charity which supports children with a parent in prison. 

Timestamps:  

00:00 – Trigger warning and intro 

01:37 – How Michael Sheath got involved in this work 

07:55 – What's the difference between a ‘contact offender’ and a ‘downloader/online offender’? 

16:54 – The influence of pornography on young people’s sexual behaviours 

20:01 – How legal porn sites suggest problematic content, and why that’s an issue 

25:39 – The role of porn in child sexual abuse 

31:16 – Why people use porn and how these sites keep you hooked  

34:12 – How do some sex offenders feel about their behaviour? 

37:32 – Navigating the consequences of being a child sexual offender 

39:17 – How do sex offenders feel towards the victims?  

45:24 – How Michael manages his mental health working in this industry 

50:00 – About Michael’s book, ‘Crossing the Line’ 

54:20 – We need sex education that’s not pornography 

55:20 – What’s next for Michael Sheath?  

57:07 – Conclusion 

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