A POWERFUL video of a young girl who thought she had made friends with a teenage boy on social media is being used to raise awareness for child abuse.

Ellie* was later sexually assaulted by a man several times after he posed as a 15-year-old boy.

Thames Valley Police launched the second phase of the Hidden Harm Campaign in conjunction with NSPCC.

Detective superintendent Nick John, head of Thames Valley Police's Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said: "Ellie's story is a powerful example of how something as simple as accepting a friend request from a person you don't know online can escalate into something with serious consequences.

"The internet is a huge part of most of our lives, especially for the younger generation and, while it brings a great deal of positive opportunities, unfortunately it can be misused by some people.

"This campaign is not about scaring people or telling them not to let their children use the internet.

"It is about making everyone aware of the potential risks associated with children being online, ensuring they can spot the signs that may indicate a child is being abused and educating everyone on ways we can all help to keep them safe.

"Keeping children safe from harm is everyone's responsibility and we are very pleased to be partnering with the NSPCC for this element of the campaign."

There is a range of activity across the force over the next three weeks to promote the campaign, including tips on using social media and face-to-face engagement with both children and adults through community events.

Follow the campaign via @ThamesVP on Twitter and the Thames Valley Police Facebook account using #HiddenHarm.

*name has been changed to protect the victim's identity.