Chris Bryant MP says he was abused at 16 by head of National Youth Theatre | Chris Bryant

Deputy Chris Bryant said that he had been sexually harassed by the head of the National Youth Theater Michael Croft.

The worker deputy, who was the Minister of Art and Telecom, said he was 16 years old when he was abused by a 40 -year -old Croft who died in 1986.

One Interview with Sunday Times Before the release of his memory, Bryant said that Croft invited him to dinner every night on his way to company rehearsals in London in the summer of 1978, and then they would go home.

One evening to find the landlord naked except for a silk bathrobe, he remembered that Croft returned from the toilet at his house. Later, he said that Croft wanted oral sex.

Bryant said to the newspaper, “I don’t like to say that much because I didn’t say it too often,” he said. “It was always the same Italian in King’s Cross.

Bryant said Croft never moved towards him again and that they were friends. Bryant, a common minister, directed Croft’s funeral.

“He was absolutely terrible, inferior, Bryan said Bryant. “Michael managed to detect someone who was gay at a time when almost all homosexuality was illegal – he certainly frowned – he assumed that people would hide a secret.”

He said that he was abused by Croft on the Days of National Youth Theater and was “destroyed by everything”. Others had previously came to the company with allegations of abuse against Croft.

Bryant told the newspaper that he had been sexually assaulted to five male deputies, although he had not named or notified during his years in Westminster.

“There was no system to do this, and I was afraid that it would look bad, ve he said, and said that the homophobia felt for 24 years as a deputy in Parliament.

A statement on the National Youth Theater website said: iz We are grateful to Chris Bryant for explaining the historical abuse he experienced in the 1970s.

“In 2017, as we included a public statement about the case, we stand in solidarity with all victims of abuse, and we encourage everyone who has abused someone to talk to someone and to access support.

“In this case, the perpetrator has died since 1986, but all the reports made to us will be discussed in accordance with our solid and officially official protection policy and practice.”

“When Chris wrote that he was not damaged by what happened, we know that exposure to the abuse of power may have permanent consequences in different ways for many people.

“Everyone who communicates will be listened to by trained professionals in line with our application with certified trauma and will be treated with care and respect.

“We are grateful to Chris for supporting our organization today, and we accept how different we are with the comprehensive protection practices and policies of a charity he faced in the 1970s in 2025.”

• Information and support for everyone affected by rape or sexual abuse problems are available from the following organizations. In the UK, Rape crisis It offers support at 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 Scotlandor 0800 0246 991 Northern Ireland. In the USA Sky It offers support on 800-656-4673. Support in Australia is available at the following address 1800 disrespect (1800 737 732). Other international assistance lines can be found at this address Ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html