I was the British 'child called It': My abusive father fooled the world into thinking we were aristocrats. But behind the scenes he beat me so hard my family thought I was dead - and my mother encouraged him

Rachel Watkyn's home in rural East Sussex is pristine: shoes off at the front door; acres of cream carpet and co-ordinating pale leather sofas. And the loo! So sparkling it looks medical-grade sterile.

I was the British 'child called It': My abusive father fooled the world into thinking we were aristocrats. But behind the scenes he beat me so hard my family thought I was dead - and my mother encouraged him
Rachel Watkyn's home in rural East Sussex is pristine: shoes off at the front door; acres of cream carpet and co-ordinating pale leather sofas. And the loo! So sparkling it looks medical-grade sterile.