Lambeth Council abuse survivors urge others to seek help

It comes after a report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse found that hundreds of children suffered abuse under the care of Lambeth Council.

The inquiry into Lambeth Council, held in the summer of 2020, examined five facilities, Angell Road, South Vale Assessment Centre, the Shirley Oaks complex, Ivy House and Monkton Street, dating back to the 1960s.

It heard evidence of children being raped, indecently assaulted and sexually abused, but said that of complaints from 705 former residents across three such facilities, only one member of senior staff was ever disciplined.

The council admitted that it had failed to protect the children in its care and set up the Lambeth Redress scheme for those affected.

This included a ‘Harm’s Way Payment’ of up to £10,000 to former residents as well as separate individual payments - based on an assessment of each individual case - for those subjected to abuse.

Survivors have instructed specialist abuse lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to submit cases under the Redress Scheme to help them overcome the trauma of what they faced at the homes the best they can.

Two of the survivors are now urging others who were under the care of Lambeth Council not to suffer in silence and ensure they sign up to the scheme.

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One woman who contacted Irwin Mitchell told how she was subjected to sexual and physical abuse while a resident at Shirley Oaks in Surrey.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was repeatedly sexually abused over several years in the 1970s and was also beaten around the face, head and body with a sandal.

She said on occasions, she was forced to sit at the table with no meal and watch others eat before having to do the washing up.

She was not allowed sanitary towels and was given cotton wool and cottons squares which she had to wash.

The woman believed her siblings, who were also under the care of Lambeth Council, were also being abused.

She said when she complained to a social worker and her mother, she was banned from seeing her siblings.

She left local authority care when she turned 16.

After contacting Irwin Mitchell she was awarded £93,000 as part of the redress scheme.

The woman, now in her 60s and a mum-of-two, said: “For years my life was hell. It felt like each day something bad would happen.

“I was repeatedly abused but afterwards the perpetrator would always threaten me saying it wasn’t worth saying anything because no one would believe me.

I tried to tell people from time to time but I was never believed and always branded a liar.

“On leaving Shirley Oaks, I felt like I was a bad person, not worth anything, dirty and a trouble maker.

“I’m proud of my family and have tried to make the most of life and worked hard to ensure my children didn’t have the childhood I had.

“However, I remain very angry about the way I was treated by Lambeth Council.

"I just hope that by speaking out, others who may find themselves in a similar position don’t feel they have to be alone. Help is out there.”

In another harrowing case study, Irwin Michell highlighted that a man was sexually abused over a four year period while at Shirley Oaks in the 1970s.

After leaving school he joined the military but, he had to be medically discharged.

He sadly died several years ago after leaving the military - his family said he struggled without a routine.

His family, who don’t want to name the man, have received a settlement of £125,000.

The man’s sister said: “Prior to going to Shirley Oaks teachers would comment on how he was a pleasant and well-mannered boy.

"However as the abuse started be became more withdrawn and sensitive and there was a marked deterioration in his behaviour.

“His career in the military helped him manage his demons, giving him structure and purpose to his life.

"He made a real success of his career but having to be medically discharged was a real blow.

"He couldn’t cope with what happened and could no longer compartmentalise his demons which he could in the military.

“While he gave the impression of being confident, inside he remained a broken little boy because of what happened at Shirley Oaks.

“Seeing him suffer because of everything that happened was heartbreaking.

"He was a decent man that was damaged beyond repair due to what happened to him as a child.

"We all remain devastated that he is no longer here and if he was he could now receive the care he needed to try and come to terms with what happened.”

The third settlement Irwin Mitchell secured relates to a man who was repeatedly abused while staying at a Lambeth Council run home in the 1980s.

One of those who targeted him was care worker Leslie Paul. In 2016 the then 64-year-old of Islington, north London, was jailed for 13 years in connection with 17 child sex offences he committed between 1980 and 1988.

On one occasion the man, now in his 50s, was driven to a house and abused by four men.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received a settlement of £160,000.

He received help from support group the Shirley Oaks Survivors’ Association and contributed to the criminal investigation that resulted in Paul being jailed.

“For years I didn’t consider going to the police as no-one had believed me before when I mentioned the abuse," he said.

“For years I had a mistrust of people which held me back in relationships, daily life and employment.

“But finally getting everything off my chest was a huge relief."

The Shirley Oaks Survivors Association is an action group set up by Lambeth survivors.

For more information visit them here.

To contact Irwin Mitchell click here.