The Boy in the Cellar

Stephen Smith

Dec 2019 · John Blake

About this ebook

Stephen Smith is the boy who did not exist.

Born out of wedlock in the early 1960s, Steve's parents hid him away from the world by locking him in the cellar...for thirteen years.

Starved and beaten, the little boy's world was a darkened room that measured just eight feet by ten with a single makeshift bed, bare light bulb, and a solitary table. Steve would spend his days conjuring up an imaginary world full of monsters he would draw to try and block out the physical and mental torture inflicted on him by his brutal father. Apart from a few admissions to hospital as a result of his 'imprisonment', Steve remained in the coal cellar of the family home where he was deprived of daylight, his childhood, school, and human contact until he'd reached his teenage years.

Eventually, he escaped only to fall prey to the instigators of two of the worst cases of institutional abuse in the UK at Aston Hall hospital and St. William's Catholic School.

The Boy in the Cellar is a horrifying true story of torture and cruelty, that reveals a human's full capacity to fight for survival and search out happiness and hope.

Ratings and reviews

Such a sad story to read, this book had me hooked, so much so I read it in 3 days. Hard to believe that anyone could treat a child in this way. Stephen is such an amazing person to have turned his life around. It takes a strong character to be able to do that!

Absolutely amazing. Type of book I could understand every word of. It's so incredibly intriguing i read 5 chapters in the space of 2hours, and carried on! A must read.

...and I thought my dad was evil... Stephen Smith made me remember that no matter what people deal with, there's always someone who goes through worse. There'll be much less complaining from me for sure. Thanks for the survival lessons, Stephen.

About the author

Steve Smith is now 57 years old, and the proud father of four children. He is married to wife, Gail, and the couple live on a canal boat where there are also no walls to enclose him. He is the lead singer of a heavy metal band that includes former members of 1970s rock group Hawkwind. Today, instead of being a frightened little boy locked away in a cellar, Steve takes centre stage and sings to audiences of thousands at music festivals around the word. His physical scars from the past may have healed long ago, but by writing his memoir he hopes to heal the psychological ones, too.