abuse cases

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Hastings teacher accused of abuse 'was having lesbian affair with alleged victim's mother' — by Conrad Murray — last modified 31-08-2006 14:36

A former sports teacher has gone on trial accused of sexual offences with a 14-year-old female pupil in Sussex.

Pensioner, 89, compensated after careworkers force fed her with talcum powder — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 11-07-2006 13:25

Solicitors of a pensioner who received a five-figure payout after care workers allegedly force fed her talcum power have welcomed the settlement. Lucy Neal, 89, had allegedly been given the powder by care workers at her home in Handsworth, Birmingham.

Medical abuse: Basingstoke doctor indecently assaulted patients — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 11-07-2006 08:40

A family doctor indecently assaulted female patients in his surgery by carrying out intimate and unnecessary examinations for his own sexual gratification, a court heard yesterday.

School bus safety: tighter background checks urged after programme reveals sex and safety risks — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 11-07-2006 07:50

Sex attacks and safety defects are placing children who travel on school buses in danger, a TV documentary has revealed. The Real Story - on BBC1 - claimed there have been more than a dozen cases of children being sexually abused by school bus drivers in the last three years. The programme also reveals over 140 school buses had safety defects.

School injury: Two six-year olds accused of sexually assaulting Suffolk schoolgirls — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 08-07-2006 16:56

Two six-year-old boys are alleged to have sexually assaulted two five-year-old girls at a primary school. Police officers were called to the school in Suffolk but as the boys are below the age of criminal responsibility social services will deal with the case.

Child abuse: Unlawfully killed baby had 40 broken bones — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 08-07-2006 09:05

A verdict of unlawful killing has been returned on a 14-week-old baby who suffered 40 broken bones.

Child abuse: Charity calls for new churches to be vetted to prevent child abuse — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 06-07-2006 12:26

People who want to set up churches should be vetted to ensure the safety of children, a children's charity says. Afruca is set to make the call at a conference about the role of faith groups in child protection. It follows a string of allegations about violent exorcisms of children in some African churches and high-profile "witchcraft" court cases.

Hull council leader in court charged with sexual abuse — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 05-07-2006 10:03

A former council leader and police authority chairman performed sex acts on a 13-year-old boy when he was a social worker, a court has heard. Colin Inglis, 49, who was leader of Hull City Council and chairman of the Humberside Police Authority, is charged with 14 counts of indecent assault. Mr Inglis, of Wellington Street West, Hull, denies all the counts.

Order to disclose sex abuse victim's medical records was unlawful — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 05-07-2006 09:51

Senior judges have ruled that a court order that demanded a 14-year-old girl who was sexually abused disclose her medical records was unlawful. The man accused of the abuse applied to Stafford Crown Court for an order requiring South Staffordshire Health Trust to reveal the girl's records. Two High Court judges ruled on Tuesday the crown court acted unlawfully in making the order against the trust.

'Extensive institutional abuse' revealed in blistering report on Cornish mental care system — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 05-07-2006 06:47

A blistering report into mental health care in Cornwall has raised serious concerns about abusive methods used in the treatment and care of people with learning disabilities.

Helpline boost for York abuse charity — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 04-07-2006 07:57

A York-based charity which helps women who were sexually abused as children is to extend its services thanks to a Lottery grant.

Clywch inquiry sex abuse school recommendations not yet met — by Conrad Murray — last modified 02-07-2006 17:55

Two years after a report into sex abuse at a school, there is concern all its recommendations have not yet been met.

Former Aberdeen Scout master and assistant head jailed for sexual abuse — by Conrad Murray — last modified 29-06-2006 13:49

A former Aberdeen Scout master and assistant head teacher who sexually abused boys has been jailed for eight years. Paul Firth, 54, admitted 13 charges of indecency involving boys as young as eight between 1974 to 1996.

Pensioner, dehydrated and emaciated, died after care home failures — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 27-06-2006 08:23

George Fairlie, 74, died after a series of failures at an undertsaffed nursing home a sheriff has ruled.

Disabled man dies in scalding bath — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 26-06-2006 16:34

A carer has been suspended after a wheelchair bound patient suffered 40% burns after being lowered into a scalding bath.

Aberdeen assistant head and Scout master admits sex crimes — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 22-05-2006 09:25

A former Aberdeen Scout master and assistant head teacher has admitted a catalogue of sex crimes against boys he was supposed to be looking after. Paul Firth, 54, admitted 13 charges of indecency involving boys as young as eight between 1974 to 1996. At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Wheatley deferred sentence for reports after noting an "appalling litany of abuse of children". They emerged after Firth was earlier jailed for three years for abuse.

Couple 'abused foster children' — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 22-05-2006 09:17

A gay couple from Pontefract have been found guilty of abusing vulnerable boys placed in their foster care. Ian Wathey, 40, was convicted of two charges of sexual activity with a child and one of encouraging a child to watch sexual activity, at Leeds Crown Court. Craig Faunch, 32, was found guilty of two charges of making indecent photographs and three of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Abusers make 'most calls' to child abuse line — by Karen McVeigh — last modified 15-05-2006 08:36

A campaign aimed at preventing child sexual abuse has found that nearly half of all calls to its telephone helpline are from adults seeking help for their own behaviour, according to The Times. Analysis by Stop It Now!, to be published next month, found that 45 per cent of calls over the past three years were from abusers or potential abusers concerned about their sexual feelings or behaviour towards children. Although the helpline is confidential, between 30 to 40 callers have turned themselves in to the authorities.

Binned records surgeon keeps job — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 25-11-2006 06:02

A police surgeon who dumped statements by victims of sex attacks and child abuse in a public rubbish bin has kept his place on the medical register. Dr Kameran Kader, 43, was accused of misconduct after ripping up about 700 confidential papers and dumping them in the Lidget Green area of Bradford. The forms were completed while Dr Kader worked as a police surgeon in Plymouth.

Sex attacker and victim 'still at same school' — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 10-05-2006 09:30

An education authority says it is to take action after it emerged a teenage sex attacker is attending the same school as his 12-year-old victim. The girl, who was eight at the time, was indecently assaulted by two boys in a park near her Hampshire home in 2002. She only reported the attack to police last year when she started at a comprehensive school and discovered one of the boys was a pupil there.

£1.25m for victim support — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 10-05-2006 09:18

Support groups for victims of sexual abuse are to be awarded grants from a £1.25m Home Office fund. Womankind, a Bristol-based charity for sexual abuse victims and counselling service Kinergy, based in south Gloucestershire will each get £30,000. The money will allow both organisations to improve their services.

Record pay-out in Fife sex abuse case — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 28-04-2006 08:27

A man who was sexually abused for years in a Fife children's home been awarded a pay-out of £150,000. Lawyers believe the sum which Tam Wilson, 52, is to receive is the highest damages ever paid for a case of its kind in Scotland. Mr Wilson was abused in the St Margaret's Children's Home in Elie over a six-year period in the 1960s. The claim arose after David Murphy was jailed in 2001 after pleading guilty to gross indecency and sodomy.

Woman to appeal 'other' salt poison case — by Conrad Murray — last modified 24-04-2006 07:33

A woman who was jailed for poisoning a young girl with salt has said she will appeal against her conviction. Susan Hamilton was sentenced to four years in 2003 after the eight-year-old girl suffered serious brain damage from a stroke. But Hamilton has told the BBC that new medical evidence shows the child's injuries could have had other causes.

Plea for second Rachel Whitear inquest — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 21-04-2006 12:25

Detectives investigating the death of a 21-year-old heroin addict have formally launched legal proceedings to ask for a new inquest. Rachel Whitear, from Ledbury, Herefordshire, was found holding a needle in a room in Exmouth, Devon, in May 2000, in an apparent overdose. An earlier inquest recorded an open verdict.

Two men guilty of abuse at Ayrshire school — by Murdo Maguire — last modified 21-04-2006 12:04

Two men have been found guilty of physically and sexually abusing troubled children they were meant to be looking after. Art teacher Matthew George, 56, and residential care worker John Muldoon, 53, worked at Kerelaw School, Ayrshire, where the offences took place. The pair originally faced 85 charges dating back 30 years. George was found guilty of 18 charges and Muldoon was found guilty of four. Sentence was deferred for reports.