I was caged like an animal, made to eat with my hands on the floor and sexually assaulted after a GP appointment

The Sun

26-05-2025

WHEN teacher Alexis Quinn reached out to her GP for support, she never imagined it would be the worst decision of her life.
The single mother, then 27, had suffered a breakdown following the tragic death of her younger brother, Josh, in December 2012.
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She expected to discuss therapy or perhaps going on anti-depressants, but instead, the teacher was detained under the Mental Health Act.
She ended up being held in 12 psychiatric units across the UK for more than three and a half years, feeling 'trapped and caged like an animal'.
She says she endured multiple sexual assaults, regular solitary confinement - once for 28 consecutive days - and frequent physical restraints.
Alexis says she was misunderstood - in fact she had undiagnosed autism and struggled with major life changes.
Fearing a lifetime inside an institution, Alexis escaped hospital with the help of two friends who drove her to Dover, Kent.
From there, she managed to reach Africa, where she spent five years rebuilding her life before finally returning home.
Today, Alexis, 40, lives in Kent with her two neurodivergent children - a 13-year-old daughter and a five-year-old son.
She's an autism advocate and helps advise the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and Care Quality Commission (CQC).
But the scars remain.
She tells Sun Health: 'The thing that sticks the most is just the dehumanisation of you, like you're just a piece of s***.
Simple 10-question test that can help determine if you have autism
'It's the feeling that you're so worthless; that you're an animal that can just be locked in a room without a toilet or a shower, and you can sit and eat with your hands. That felt so monstrous.
'I lost nine years of my life - four incarcerated and five rebuilding my life back up abroad.
'I can't get those years back - years that I could have been spending with my daughter and building my career.
'I still constantly feel under threat that I could have my freedom taken away again because the systems that meant I could be detained for so long haven't changed.
'In fact, more autistic people are unnecessarily detained now than when I was.'
The latest NHS data shows that 1,435 autistic people remained "locked away" in mental health hospitals in England in March 2025.
That's 55 more than in March 2024, and a 136 per cent rise since 2015.
Mel Merritt, head of policy and campaigns at the National Autistic Society, says: "Currently autistic people are deprived of their basic liberties in mental health hospitals, where they often face abuse, overmedication, and unnecessary restraint and the average stay is nearly five years.
"The only way to end the human rights scandal is to have a proper Government plan."
The 2019 NHS Long Term Plan introduced a target to halve the number of autistic people and those with a learning disability in mental health hospitals from March 2015, but this was missed.
The NHS Priorities and Operational Planning Guidance for 2025/26 introduced a new target of a 10 per cent minimum reduction.
Tragic loss sent Alexis spiralling
Alexis' trauma began shortly after returning from five years of teaching in Asia.
The Edinburgh University graduate had just started a new job at a grammar school teaching PE, moved back in with her parents, and was caring for her newborn daughter. The baby's father remained in Asia and was not involved.
Already overwhelmed, her brother Josh's sudden and heartbreaking death sent her spiralling.
As a child, Alexis would often fixate on details - a feature of her undiagnosed autism - which made her an A-grade student and a stellar swimmer who represented Great Britain at international level as a teenager.
Now, though, she had become fixated on death.
She says: 'I was really interested in how my brother died; how his body shut down, what happened, why it happened.'
A few weeks after Josh's death, her GP referred her to a mental health team, which, concerned for her wellbeing, suggested she take a 72-hour respite stay at St Martin's Hospital in Canterbury, to which Alexis agreed.
Within hours of arriving, however, she realised something was terribly wrong.
They restrained me, pulled my pants down, injected me with sedatives, and left me locked up on Christmas Day
Alexis Quinn
Alexis, author of UNbroken, Autistic and Expecting, and Improving Mental Health Therapies for Autistic Children and Young People, says: 'The noise of the unit, the busyness, the irate family members - it was overwhelming.
'There was a lot of violence, and I was watching people's distress, but feeling the very same distress myself.
'I entered this cycle of sensory overload and meltdowns.'
Autistic meltdowns are extreme sensory and emotional reactions to stressful environments.
But because her autism was undiagnosed, Alexis' behaviours were interpreted as dangerous.
Staff responded with restraint, sedation, and seclusion.
These practices are supposed to be a last resort, but figures released to the Liberal Democrats under the Freedom of Information Act in 2017 suggest they are widespread, with mental health trusts in England restraining patients every 10 minutes, on average.
In just one year, patients across 40 trusts were restrained 59,808 times, compared to 46,499 three years earlier (2013-14).
'On Friday, I was teaching in a grammar school. By Monday, I was being told I'm somewhere I'm not allowed to leave,' Alexis says.
'I was like, 'f***ing open the door. This isn't what I signed up for'.
'I equated hospital with care and support. I didn't equate hospital with a complete loss of freedom.
'I'd lost my liberty and I hadn't committed a crime.'
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Alexis was officially sectioned under the Mental Health Act - meaning she was deemed a danger to herself or others and required treatment, whether she agreed or not.
She entered a traumatic cycle: overload, meltdown, forced restraint, powerful sedatives, and long-term segregation.
Alexis was moved between psychiatric hospitals throughout England, often placed in mixed-sex units.
On Christmas Eve 2013, already low at the thought of not being with her daughter, who was with Alexis' mother, she says she was assaulted by a male patient at Littlebrook Hospital in Dartford, after being lured down a corridor.
She says: 'He pressed me up against the door and he lifted my top up, and he started to touch me on my breasts.
'He then sort of pulled my trousers down, and all I could hear was his breathing, and everything was slow and really loud.
'I remember not being able to move, and being stuck. I don't know what exactly happened in my mind, but at some point I just pushed him away.'
When she reported the assault, she suffered another meltdown and was placed in solitary confinement.
'They restrained me, pulled my pants down, injected me with sedatives, and left me locked in the room on Christmas Day,' Alexis says. 'It was just me.'
The key characteristics of autism - and why they go unnoticed
By Alice Fuller, Health Features Editor
MODEL Christine McGuinness was a 'recluse' for eight years and only left the house at 3am.
Springwatch presenter Chris Packham says it makes him a 'task-centric workaholic who sees problems in everything he does'.
And recently, Bella Ramsey revealed they were diagnosed after struggling to wear thermals on the set of The Last of Us.
But what exactly is autism and why does it seem so different in everyone?
Leanne Cooper-Brown, neurodevelopmental lead at Clinical Partners, tells Sun Health: 'Autism is considered a spectrum, so not all people share the same traits.
'Whereas we used to think of autism as a linear line, we have come to realise that terms such as 'high' and 'low' functioning or definitions of 'mild', 'moderate' or 'severe' aren't helpful and can be misleading.
'Nowadays, we think of autism in terms of the strengths and needs of the individual, which can change over time depending on their environment and support network.'
About 700,000 people in the UK are thought to have autism - that's one in 100.
But research by University College London suggests that number could be twice as high, as many people remain undiagnosed.
Cases are on the rise though. Figures released last year showed a 175 per cent increase from 2011 to 2022.
Dr Selina Warlow, clinical psychologist and owner of The Nook Neurodevelopmental Clinic, says: 'Conversation around neurodiversity is becoming normalised, and that's so positive to see. But more awareness is needed.
'Receiving a diagnosis can open access to expert resources that support autistic people to thrive in society.'
Autism has long been associated with social difficulties, like problems maintaining conversations and forming relationships.
But research published in the journal Cell Press suggested that repetitive behaviours - like rocking or finger-flicking - and special interests - whether it's TV shows or specific animals - are more indicative of an autism diagnosis.
Generally though, experts say the core characteristics include…
Sensitivity - autistic people can be much more or less sensitive to sights, sounds, textures, tastes and smells. For example, they find bright lights or crowded spaces overwhelming, Leanne says. They may also stand too close to others or need to move their whole body to look at something.
Stimming - to manage this sensory overload, some people use repetitive movements or sounds. 'This is called stimming, and includes rocking, tapping and hand-flapping,' Dr Warlow says. 'Though it's something everyone does to some extent, those with autism are likely to engage with it as a form of self-regulation.'
Masking - this is a strategy used by some autistic people, consciously or not, to match neurotypical people, Dr Warlow says. 'It's a way of hiding your true characteristics, and could involve copying facial expressions, planning conversations in advance, or holding in 'stimming' - swapping hand clapping with playing with a pen, for example,' she adds.
Burnout - this is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion and is a common feature in autism. 'Being extremely tired, both mentally and physically, can be associated with the act of masking for a long period of time, or sensory or social overload,' Dr Warlow says. 'Symptoms of autistic burnout include social withdrawal, reduced performance and increased sensitivity.'
Social struggles - socialising can be confusing or tiring for autistic people. They often find it hard to understand what others are thinking or feeling, making it challenging to make friends. Leanne says: 'In adults, autism may present as difficulties with interpreting social cues such as understanding body language or sarcasm, struggling to express emotions or preferring to be alone. This can impact relationships and work.'
Routine - many of us have a fairly regular daily schedule. But for autistic people, this becomes a 'very strong preference for routine', Leanne says. This could be needing a daily timetable to know what is going to happen and when, or having rigid preferences about foods or clothing.
Literal thinking - some autistic people have a literal view of language - like believing it's actually 'raining cats and dogs' or that someone really wants you to 'break a leg'. Dr Warlow says: 'This can result in confusion with figures of speech, irony or indirect requests. 'For instance, being told to 'pull your socks up' might be understood literally, not as a motivational phrase.'
Hyperfocus - often associated with ADHD, hyperfocusing is also common in autistic people. 'It's where you're able to focus intensely on an activity and become absorbed to the point of forgetting about time,' Dr Warlow says. 'This is useful in work or hobbies but can result in neglect of other aspects of life, such as food or rest.'
Special interests - we all have hobbies and interests, but for autistic people, these are so compelling they often want to spend all their time learning about, thinking about or doing them. 'Special interests could include anything from dinosaurs to superheroes, and gardening to music,' Dr Warlow says. 'These usually begin in childhood, but can also form as an adult. 'Chris Packham is an example of an autistic person who turned his childhood special interest in animals into a successful career, becoming one of the UK's best-loved natural world TV presenters.'
A second assault occurred months later, back at St Martin's, when a male patient groped her in a treatment room.
Her mother Linda, a former police officer, filed formal complaints with the Kent and Medway NHS Trust.
Both were investigated, and the Trust issued an apology, but no further action was taken.
After that, Alexis experienced more sexual assaults.
She says: 'It happened a dozen or so times, but I didn't report them because the first two were completely dismissed and actually made my life worse.
'It was put on my record that I was liable to make allegations - even though the police had investigated.'
It wasn't until Alexis was transferred to a specialist unit in York in 2014 that a doctor recognised her behaviour for what it was.
'She said, 'Alexis, you're not sick - you're autistic',' Alexis remembers.
'It was liberating. From that moment on, some of the treatment got better.
'People weren't blaming me for my behaviour - they were trying to understand.'
'It was the worst time of my life'
She was moved to Milton Park Therapeutic Campus in Bedfordshire - an assessment and treatment unit (ATU) for people with autism and learning disabilities.
But what should have been a turning point became her darkest period.
She had hoped things would be different with her new diagnosis but within hours of admission, her phone was taken away from her.
Feeling trapped once more, Alexis left the unit but was chased down by police.
That same day, she was detained and put in solitary confinement for eight days.
'It was the worst time of my life,' she says.
'I spent 28 days in solitary confinement at one point. I was in a room nine steps wide.
'You don't know whether you're dead or alive because when you're not observed and interacted with by staff, that really drives you crazy.
'There's no clock. You are fed on the floor. You don't have a knife and fork so you have to eat with your hands.
'There's no shower, no bedding, just a mattress. It's just disgusting.'
The CQC identified a number of safeguarding issues at Milton Park unconnected to Alexis' experience, and the centre is now closed.
By 2016, now in a unit in Ramsgate, Kent, Alexis saw no hope of ever breaking out of the system she felt locked in for more than three years.
Two family friends, a retired GP and his partner, learned of her story and started visiting her in care.
They helped advocate for her section to be removed, but Alexis learned she would remain detained for another year.
The couple had previously joked that they would help her escape if she needed to, so Alexis took them up on the offer.
On a spring day in May 2016, Alexis walked out of the hospital garden, picked up a hidden bag of clothes, and climbed into their car.
They drove her to Dover. From there, she travelled to Paris, then Dubai, and finally Lagos, Nigeria, where she knew a friend was living.
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'I had money saved up from my work in Asia and when the plane took off, I just couldn't stop crying,' she says.
'I felt safe for the first time in four years.
'Then I remember that feeling of the warmth of the African sun on my face and the big blue skies and knowing I could make my own choices again.'
She was stopped in France after British authorities flagged she had fled, but decided to let her go, saying there was no legal reason to hold her.
The couple who helped her were contacted by police in the aftermath but were not charged.
Within a matter of weeks, Alexis was teaching at a school and her daughter, who flew out with her grandparents, soon joined her.
Her section was removed in September 2016 following a six-month legal battle, but Alexis stayed in Africa for five years in fear of return.
'It's the moments of intimacy and connection that people take for granted that I appreciated the most,' she says.
'The little things, too. I now got to choose who saw me naked and who saw me with no make-up.
'I was no longer being watched on CCTV, forced to eat off the floor, or urinate in corners.'
What does it mean to be sectioned and detained?
Sectioned:
This term refers to being detained under a specific "section" of the Mental Health Act 1983.
It means that an individual is legally required to stay in a hospital or mental health facility for assessment or treatment for their mental health condition, whether they agree or not.
The specific "section" determines the circumstances and duration of the detention. For example:
Section 2: For assessment (up to 28 days).
Section 3: For treatment (up to six months, renewable).
Section 4: Emergency detention (up to 72 hours).
To be sectioned just refers to the legal process.
Someone should only be sectioned if:
They need to be assessed or treated for a mental health problem
Their health would be at risk of getting worse if they did not get treatment
Their safety or someone else's safety would be at risk if they did not get treatment
Their doctor thinks they need to be assessed or treated in hospital, for example if they need to be monitored very regularly because they have to take new or very powerful medication. Otherwise, they may be asked to attend a hospital out-patient clinic.
If you are sectioned, you can be kept in hospital, stopped from leaving the ward and given treatment for your mental health problems, possibly without your consent.
Detained:
This is the broader legal term that refers to being held in a hospital under the Mental Health Act.
If someone is "sectioned," they are also "detained."
However, "detained" is the formal legal term, while "sectioned" is more commonly used in everyday language.
An individual is detained because health professionals believe they pose a risk to themselves or others due to their mental health.
Between April 2022 and March 2023, more than 51,000 people were detained under the Act in the UK.
This is nearly an eight per cent reduction compared to the previous year's figures.
Black people were nearly four times more likely to be detained under the Act than white people.
People from deprived areas were also nearly four times more likely to be detained for mental health treatment.
If you are sectioned, you normally have the right to get help from someone called an independent mental health advocate (IMHA) who can help you find out what rights you have while you are sectioned, and how to be discharged from hospital and get the section lifted.
A family member will have certain legal rights related to your sectioning.
Today, Alexis is back in the UK. She has not only rebuilt her life as a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist, but also committed herself to improving the system that failed her.
As a human rights campaigner, she advocates for better understanding of autism and champions community-based care over institutionalisation.
Through other work advising the CQC, she also hopes to influence policies and hold care providers accountable.
'We need support that's compassionate,' she says. 'Not people being handcuffed and carted off. Not people being locked in rooms for weeks.
'I know the treatment people still receive is harsh and unjust. People are dying.'
Despite all she has endured, Alexis remains hopeful.
'I don't think you can put into words what my friends did for me, so what I do is to just try and make the best of my life, and I try to make the best of it for other people,' she says.
'I try to contribute in a positive way to make sure this stuff doesn't happen again to anyone.
'I can't make up for lost time with my daughter, now 13, but I can hopefully show my children there's a different path.'
Help for mental health
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support.
The following are free to contact and confidential:
Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
Shout (for support of all mental health) www.giveusashout.org/get-help/, text 85258 to start a conversation
Mind, www.mind.org, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary).
YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too.
Rethink Mental Illness, www.rethink.org, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk, is the a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.