MY DAUGHTER CRIED LAST NIGHT AND TOLD ME I HAD LET HER DOWN

I didn't know what I had done. I had been at work all day. I had barely been home 5 minutes and practically not said a word. What could I have done that made her cry? I, literally, had no idea.

The Channel 4 news was on TV when I arrived. The horrendous story of Sarah Everard's abduction was headline news. It has been all week.

Anyone in the UK will be aware of this episode. Sarah Everard, 33, was last seen in Clapham, south London, on 3 March 2021. The Met Police arrested one of its own officers on suspicion of both kidnap and murder.

The case has prompted an outpouring of shock and anger as women across the country share their own experiences of feeling unsafe. The TV had a panel of people discussing this.

At that point my daughter admitted she loved me but started to cry. My heart sank. She could barely breathe but somehow explained how I had disappointed her profoundly a while back.

Three years ago, whilst living in Brazil, she was "cat called" (men had commented what a "great body" she had) just outside our flat. She was around 13 years old. She could not understand why men would do this.

When she told me about the incident later that day, I stupidly and naively attempted to brush it off by saying that as she was growing up (in Latin America), and these things may happen. BIG MISTAKE. MASSIVE MISTAKE.

I had amplified the pain. I unknowingly "normalised" behaviour that had humiliated, shocked, and intimidated my own daughter. The last thing any father wants to do - right?

I messed up big time. I failed to be her safe harbour that day. I am now dealing with this and feel absolutely dreadful.

She felt helpless that day. Her memory is still so vivid, it has deeply affected her. So much so, the thought of it made her cry again yesterday.

As part of Women's Day, I committed to change and reflect. Seeing my daughter cry yesterday was powerful and painful. I never want to cause pain to any woman, least of all, my own family.

Women have the right to not feel scared or intimidated. We men have the obligation to stop normalising, stop intimidating, actively listen, reflect deeply and ensure this changes - now.

Sorry to my daughter. Sorry to all women. I promise I will not let this happen again.