Leaving the Grey Room

We have moved

2011-02-17T22:58:00.001Z

I have made the decision to move this blog.

This project means a great deal to those of us involved with it and I'm concerned that we could suffer the same fate as Micky and other bloggers on this platform.

The new address is http://malcolmrichard.wordpress.com/ and I very much hope you'll visit us there and also that those of you who have us in your blogrolls will update that information.

Micky and I look forward to talking to you at our new home.

Love
Malcolm

Man held in Torbay child sex abuse inquiry

2011-02-17T19:15:00.001Z

Police investigating alleged sexual abuse of young people in a Devon resort have arrested a 19-year-old man.

Officers told a news conference in Torbay the alleged abuse involved children aged 12 and upwards and 20 children had been interviewed.

Police said the offences include indecent assault and rape over two to three years and the victims were known to the offenders.

They said there could be more arrests in the fast-moving investigation.

Det Insp Simon Snell said: "Children are completely safe to walk the streets of Torbay. They are not being grabbed off the streets."

Fifty officers are investigating the abuse allegations.

The arrested man, from the Torbay area, is being held at Torquay police station.

Det Insp Simon Snell of Devon and Cornwall Police says children in Torbay are safe to walk the streets

Each offence had taken place in the Torbay area and none had taken place in a school.

The offences came to light after agencies involved in child care alerted police.

Eight social workers are supporting the children who have been interviewed. No children have been taken into care, although two were already in care.

Det Insp Snell said: "We are looking at other people and other arrests may follow in the coming days and weeks.

"The abuse could have been taking place over two or three years."

A letter designed to reassure parents has been sent to those with children attending secondary schools in the Torbay and Teignbridge areas.

A teacher at one secondary school in the area, who declined to be named, said: "We've spoken to a couple of parents who phoned in this morning, but that was because they hadn't received the letter, which they have now.

"We'll reassure any parents that need reassuring and provide all the support we can."

Thanks to BBC News for this story.

Calling graphic artists

2011-02-15T00:19:00.000Z

Is there anyone out there who can help me out with a small artistic challenge?

You may have noticed that the header image has disappeared from this blog; somehow it seems to have been caught up in the recent Google blog nuking events. This would seem to be an ideal time to create a new header image that gets across the ethos of Leaving The Grey Room.

Unfortunately I have absolutely no skill in the area of graphic design and while I have several ideas I'm completely incapable of translating them into reality.

If anybody could help me with this I'd be very grateful.

Breaking the cycle

2011-02-14T13:32:00.000Z

I think it's time to get some debate going here. With counselling (assuming it survives budget cuts) getting nearer I find my thoughts turning increasingly towards the events of my childhood and adolescence. This isn't an entirely bad thing as long as I don't get 'out of my depth'.

One of the mitigating factors often put before a court when a child abuser is brought to trial is that he or she suffered similar or worse abuse themselves in their childhood. Now, I try to be fair minded and I can see that certain behavioural patterns can be reinforced by childhood experience but I find it hard to quell a surge of anger every time I hear this plea. I'm not a saint and I don't presume to judge but my personal journey demonstrates that the chain can be broken.

When I was in Lower Sixth Form I expressed an interest in teaching as a career after getting my Music degree (that was the plan at the time). I already taught beginners classes in violin, that was considered an important part of my own development as a musician, and enjoyed the feeling that I was passing on some of my expertise to a new generation. There can't be a much more compelling reason to teach can there?

One of my Masters arranged for me to spend one afternoon a week at a local primary school to gain some 'real' experience in teaching. Most of the time I'd be unsupervised (bear in mind that this was 1970) and he wanted me to discover if my trademark temper could be kept under control in a classroom situation. I had a different concern because the Headmaster of the primary school wanted me to help with swimming lessons and then supervise the boy's changing room afterwards.

I thought about the implications a great deal in light of my personal experiences and decided that this would be my own 40 days and nights in the wilderness. I duly turned up for my first session and found myself trying to bring 15 or so naked 10 year olds under control and persuade them to get dried and dressed so education could commence. I was relieved and delighted when I realised that I had no desire to be anything other than their teacher; the one in charge.

Sadly my plans got derailed by the ultimate collapse of my relationship with my parents and university didn't happen, neither did teaching; education's loss I'd venture to suggest. What I did bring from that experience was the knowledge that the cycle can be broken.

Being abused does not have to make you an abuser.

Would anybody like to add their thoughts?

Common sense prevailing?

2011-02-11T13:31:00.001Z

Hi everyone. I'm really sorry for the rather extended absence but I found that I was spreading myself a bit thin with trying to catch up on my college workd after I'd been ill. The backlog has been cleared now so I can devote a portion of myself to other equally important matters.

I'd like to briefly talk about an issue which is germane to the purpose of this blog but is also a potential emotional and political minefield. It has been announced that the rules governing CRB checks for all people coming into contact with children for whatever reason are to be relaxed.

You may, or indeed may not, be surprised to learn that I'm completely in favour of this relaxation. While I believe that all people who intend to work with children on a regular basis should be rigorously checked I think it's nonsensical that people such as visiting authors and one-off speakers should have to go through this rigmarole.

At both primary and grammar school we had many visting speakers and one feature of those special events was that they were attended by all the staff whose pupils were in the hall rather than in the form room. Even without the staff present a speaker at grammar school who had nefarious intentions would have needed to molest at least 30 children simultaneously; quite often it would be the whole of the lower school in the hall which was just under 200 children. I don't want to be flippant about such a serious issue but the scenario is surpassingly silly.

Obviously I wouldn't want to see a return to the laissez faire attitude of my childhood when a teenager was able to abuse me for three years within the confines of a tiny, remote village with nobody apparently suspecting a thing. Conversely I would hate to see children denied the opportunity to meet fine authors such as Phillip Pullman because he finds the idea of the CRB check insulting so decides not to offer his services.

Let's be clear about something. I don't believe that there is any greater incidence of child abuse than there has ever been. That we are more aware of the problem is clear and the apparent increase in offences is far more likely to be an increase in reporting and prosecution. This is a good thing!

Children need to be able to be children and that will always present a certain level of risk, be that the risk of falling out of a tree or into a river, or anything else. What is needed is a way to make children more aware of the real risks without making them scared of everything. Sadly I don't see a world where child abuse will stop but the risks can be minimised with a considered approach.

Above all, I'm talking to you parents, teachers and others who live and work with children, we must listen to children when they tell us that bad things are happening to them. When I was a child it was assumed that a child was lying unless there was concrete evidence to support a claim. Let's make sure that world goes forever.

Thank you.

UK: Muslim cleric assaulted boys at Stoke on Trent mosque

2011-02-01T17:29:00.001Z

Mohammed Hanif Khan

A Muslim cleric has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two boys at a mosque in Stoke-on-Trent.

Mohammed Hanif Khan, 42, had denied charges of rape, attempted rape and sexual activity with a child.

A jury at Nottingham Crown Court found Khan, of Owler Lane, Sheffield, guilty of two counts of rape and one of sexual activity with a child.

The offences took place at the mosque on Capper Street between July and October 2009.

Khan has been remanded into custody and will be sentenced at a later date.

Religious education

The jury could not reach verdicts on other charges against the imam and were discharged from doing so.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Khan was imam of the mosque, where he led prayers and delivered religious education lessons to boys at evening classes.

Prosecutor Tariq Bin Shakoor had told the court one of the boys claimed in police interviews that he was singled out by Khan after evening prayer on several occasions.

He was assaulted in areas of the mosque not covered by CCTV, Mr Shakoor said.

The other boy was assaulted when he was an overnight guest at Khan's house, the jury heard.

In his defence, Khan said he had a close relationship with the boys because he tried to help them with their unruly behaviour.

'Exploited trust'

His lawyer, Robert Woodcock QC, asked him who had invited him to get involved in the families' business and he said it was mainly the boys' mothers.

Don Knapper, district crown prosecutor, said it was a case of abuse of young boys by a man who they and their families trusted.

"Khan was in a position of trust and exploited the access he was afforded as their teacher to abuse the boys," he said,

After the verdict, Det Insp Tim Martin from Staffordshire Police said it had been a thorough inquiry, and he realised the case had been cause for some "understandable concern" in the community.

There are other links to this story at BBC News.

Former Catholic Priest on trial for raping two young boys.

2011-02-01T10:29:00.000Z

(former Rev.)Gary Mercure
Who has pleaded innocent
and has not yet been found guilty.

By Bob Gardinier Staff Writer

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Opening arguments in the trial of a former Roman Catholic priest charged with raping two boys will be postponed until Thursday because of the looming snowstorm.

Ten jurors were selected Monday for Gary Mercure's trial in Berkshire County Court, officials said. Jury selection will continue Tuesday.

But even if a complete panel is selected Tuesday, officials said, opening arguments won't be held until after Wednesday, when the storm is expected to end.

Mercure, 62, faces three counts of rape of a child with force and one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to the office of District Attorney David F. Capeless.

Mercure, who served in two Troy parishes, was indicted in October 2008 on charges that he raped a boy in the Great Barrington, Mass., area in the fall of 1986 and another boy in New Ashford, Mass., in February 1989.

The alleged victims, who were from New York parishes and traveled to Massachusetts with Mercure, are now 34 and 35 years old, officials said.

The Albany diocese received allegations of sexual abuse against Mercure in January 2008, saidKen Goldfarb, spokesman for the diocese. From January until August 2008, Mercure was on administrative leave and was prohibited from all active ministry. He had been serving at the Sacred Heart and St. William parishes in Troy.

Following the diocese's investigation, Mercure was permanently removed from ministry in August 2008, Goldfarb said.

In New York state, Mercure was accused of but never charged with sexually assaulting several boys in Albany and Warren counties. The diocese investigated an incident relating to "misconduct with a minor" involving Mercure while he was at St. Teresa of Avila parish in Albany in the mid-1980s, authorities have said.

The statute of limitations for bringing criminal charges against Mercure in New York had already expired by the time the accusations were made. Massachusetts has a longer statute of limitations for such charges.

Mercure was ordained in 1975 and served as a priest at St. Mary's in Clinton Heights, St. Mary's Parish in Glens Falls, Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish in Queensbury, St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Albany and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Latham.

from The Times Union , Albany, New York.

Social Worker censured over child's injuries and death

2011-01-12T16:56:00.000Z

Sanam Navsarka -
murdered

A social worker in West Yorkshire, UK who failed to pass on information about the abuse of a toddler a week before she was murdered has been found guilty of misconduct.

Judyth Kenworthy was warned that two-year-old Sanam Navsarka had a bruise on her head and had been locked in a cupboard - but did not act.

The General Social Care Council is to decide what sanction she will face.

Sanam, of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, was murdered in May 2008 by her mother's partner.

She had more than 100 injuries.

'Extremely busy'

Mrs Kenworthy, a former family placement officer at Kirklees Council, had denied being told about the cupboard incident but a General Social Care Council committee found this to be untrue, following a hearing in London.

Mrs Kenworthy had admitted failing to pass on warning about the bruise on the child's head, saying she had been "extremely busy" at the time.

She had also agreed that no measures were taken to safeguard Sanam as a result of her actions and admitted withholding information when she gave a statement to police.

Detailing why her actions amounted to misconduct, the committee said: "The registrant was not trustworthy in her dealings with the police, concealing relevant information in a criminal investigation."

It added: "She did not communicate the information given to her to anyone within social services, nor was she accurate and straightforward in her dealings with the police.The committee said Mrs Kenworthy should not have dismissed a concern about a child without investigation.

"The registrant put others at risk and such behaviour undermines public trust and confidence in the social care services.

"The registrant's practices did not meet the standards required of a social worker.

Shattered leg

"At the very least she did not work in a safe and effective way. The public expects social care workers to be trustworthy and to work to relevant standards.

"Confidence in the social care services would be undermined if they do not."

Sanam died after being beaten over four weeks and was found with fractures to all her limbs. A metal pole was used to shatter one of her legs.

Hand prints and bloodstains were found inside cupboards, where she had been put as a punishment.

Her mother Zahbeena Navsarka, 21, was jailed for nine years for manslaughter. Her mother's partner Subhan Anwar, 21, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years for her murder.

Thanks to BBC News for this report.

'Paedophile Ringleaders' jailed

2011-01-10T17:17:00.000Z

Bristol, UK.

The leader of a paedophile ring which sexually abused young children and shared the images has been jailed.

Colin Blanchard, 40, of Rochdale, admitted a string of sex offences. He received an indeterminate sentence, and must spend at least nine years in jail.

Two women were also sentenced. Tracy Lyons, 41, of Portsmouth, was jailed for seven years and Tracy Dawber, 44, of Southport, for four years.

Plymouth nursery worker Vanessa George, 40, was jailed in 2009.

She received an indeterminate sentence, as did the fifth member of the ring, 40-year-old Angela Allen, of Nottingham. They were given minimum terms of seven years and five years respectively.

'Svengali-like influence'

Mr Justice Royce, sitting at Bristol Crown Court, said Blanchard was guilty of "breathtaking depravity", and described him as "warped, wicked, dangerous and devious".

He told the three defendants: "This case involving the three of you, together with Vanessa George and Angela Allen, has caused widespread revulsion and disbelief.

"Your influence Colin Blanchard, described this morning as Svengali-like, over four separate women so they engaged in sexual abuse of children in such tender years, is frightening.

"It is more extraordinary when one appreciates you never actually met three of them face to face.

"It is beyond the ken of decent people how any of you could stoop as disgustingly low as you did."

Prosecutors described five defendants as being involved in "one of the most sickening paedophile rings this country has seen".

Blanchard, an father-of-two, met the women over the internet and convinced them to sexually assault young children and send him the images.

The ring was broken when a colleague of Blanchard found child sex abuse images on his computer in June 2009 and called police.

'Dim woman'

The net closed in on the others when detectives identified George, Lyons, Dawber and Allen as being the other members.

George - who was described as being obsessed with Blanchard - abused young children at Little Ted's nursery in Plymouth.

Ex-prostitute Allen and mother-of-nine Lyons also assaulted youngsters to please Blanchard, an IT consultant. The two women were in regular contact on Facebook.

Dawber had a face-to-face relationship with Blanchard after meeting him on Facebook. She sexually assaulted a child and allowed Blanchard to take pictures of the abuse on his mobile phone.

Blanchard admitted taking indecent photographs of children, distribution of an indecent image and sexual assault of a child under the age of 13. He had previously admitted 19 other sex abuse charges.

Dawber, a former care worker and grandmother, was convicted in October of sexual assault, arrangement or commission of a child sex offence and five offences of permitting an indecent image to be taken.

Lyons admitted assault of a child by penetration, sexual assault of a child under 13, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and three offences of distributing indecent photographs of a child.

Greville Davis, for Blanchard, said his client was a "broken man" who had been diagnosed by a psychiatrist as suffering from bipolar disorder.

Stephen Smyth, representing Lyons, said Blanchard had a "Svengali" hold over his client, who was a "dim woman".

Thanks to BBC News.

Girls drugged for underage sex

2011-01-07T17:17:00.000Z

Detective Supt.
Debbie Platt

The ringleaders of a gang which groomed and abused teenage girls in Derby, England have been given indeterminate jail terms.

Mohammed Liaqat, 28, and Abid Saddique, 27, were found guilty at a trial in November of charges including rape.

At Nottingham Crown Court, Saddique was jailed for at least 11 years and Liaqat for a minimum of eight.

Many of the gang's victims were given alcohol or drugs before being forced to have sex in cars, rented houses or hotels across the Midlands.

Six other men have already been sentenced for their part in the abuse.

'Sexual predators'

A seventh man was cleared of sex charges but pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Derbyshire Police Det Supt Debbie Platt said the two men were "sexual predators" who were looking for sexual gratification.

She praised the victims for coming forward and said that "without their bravery we would not have seen the outcome we saw today".

Liaqat, of Briar Lea Close, Sinfin, was found guilty of one count of rape, two of sexual assault, aiding and abetting rape, affray and four counts of sexual activity with a child.

Saddique, of Northumberland Street, Normanton, was convicted of four counts of rape as well as two counts of false imprisonment, two of sexual assault, three charges of sexual activity with a child, perverting the course of justice and aiding and abetting rape.

There were 26 girls involved in the case, with the youngest 12 and the oldest 18.

Derbyshire Police said the girls were from a variety of backgrounds and urged all parents to be aware of the risks of sexual exploitation.

A report published after the gang was convicted said there were "missed opportunities" by agencies to help the girls.

More from BBC News

Nursery worker arrested in UK on suspicion of sexual abuse

2011-01-06T16:20:00.000Z

A male nursery worker from Birmingham (England) has been arrested on suspicion of the sexual abuse of a child.

Officers arrested the 20-year-old man at his home in Nechells in the early hours of Wednesday.

A number of items, including a computer, were seized and are currently being examined by specialist investigators, police said.

The man is an assistant at Little Stars Nursery in Nechells. Parents are being contacted by police.

The nursery, which currently has 55 children attending and 14 members of staff, has been closed, a police spokesman added.

A telephone line for parents has been opened with specialist staff on hand to offer advice and support. The number is: 0121 675 4806.

'Victim identified'

Assistant Chief Constable Anil Patani said: "The investigation is in its very early stages; however we believe that we have identified one victim who we believe attends the nursery.

"The family of this child have been told and police are supporting them at this very difficult time."

A joint investigation is being carried out by the force and Birmingham City Council's children's services.

Police said a meeting would be held for parents with children registered at the nursery where senior officers and council officials would provide an update on the investigation.

Mr Patani added: "West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council do not underestimate the significance this news has on parents and the local community."

The nursery was issued with an improvement notice by Ofsted in August after an unannounced inspection revealed it did not have an effective safeguarding children procedure.

It was given a good rating after a subsequent inspection in November.

'Keep parents informed'

Ofsted said the nursery "supports children who speak English as an additional language".

The facility is also open to children with learning difficulties and disabilities.

In a statement Ofsted said it was aware of the investigation and was working closely with the police and the local authority to assist and consider what action needs to be taken.

"We fully understand how worrying this situation is for parents but it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this stage of the police investigation.'

Birmingham City Council said it was also working closely with West Midlands Police and would continue to keep parents informed.

"We've set up a helpline with specialist staff to offer help and advice," the spokesman added.

The nursery is not run by the local authority.

We have reproduced this story from the BBC News website, with thanks.

"I never abused her" but the Court has found differently.

2010-12-15T16:41:00.002Z

Martin Smith
Picture from BBC News

A man whose partner is accused of murdering their two children has been found guilty of child sex abuse.

Martin Smith, 45, of Carlisle, had denied 11 counts of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault on his victim, who is now in her 20s.

But he was found guilty of the charges at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday.

His partner, Lianne Smith, 44, is accused of killing their children Rebecca, five, and Daniel, 11 months, in a Spanish resort in May.

Smith, originally from North Shields, used hypnosis and violence to groom and sexually abuse the girl, the court heard.

Giving evidence via video link from Spain where she is being held in custody, Lianne Smith said she had never had any concerns about her partner of 18 years.

She said they had left the UK to "protect" their daughter Rebecca after social workers had "threatened" to take her away.

"We left to protect Becky, so... sorry, we left to protect her from Staffordshire Social Services," she said "and in particular to protect her from the social workers, who had a mission to take our daughter off us. They had already made that threat on the telephone, they retracted that in front of our lawyer, but they made that threat."

Smith, who appeared on television as a medium three years ago on the Living channel's Most Haunted programme, was warned by the judge that a long custodial sentence was inevitable.

He was remanded in custody for reports, and will be sentenced in February.

Speaking after the trial, Det Insp Kim Filton from Cumbria Police praised the bravery of the victim.

She said: "The impact this prolonged abuse has had on the victim is immeasurable, but the bravery she has shown and the trust she has put in us from the outset has been tremendous.

"Her strength has been brought to this point today and I hope this result will help her to move on and begin to put the past behind her."

From the BBC website

2010-12-14T17:39:00.000Z

This is not a pleasant post to write but in the interests of complete honesty I believe that it needs to be written.

As you know I had an an assessment session with the counselling service last week and at the time was both relieved and happy that things were finally on course. Unfortunately the euphoria proved to be a little premature.

I'm used to dealing with persistent, unpleasant memories; they're part of my life and aren't going away. However I usually only have to deal with one slice of history at a time. I hadn't allowed for the fact that in the space of an hour I detailed the whole list of events covering the 15 years between the ages of 3 and 18.

It was like watching an out of control slide show and I was left completely helpless in the face of so much horror. Seeing yourself as a cowering toddler, an abuse victim, being bullied and then suffering at the hands of your stepfather is not something I'd recommend to anybody.

With the help of my superb GP and the Exeter Crisis Management Team I've got things under control again and now have access to help, should I need it, at any time from people who have access to the full story. Just knowing that the help is available makes an enormous difference.

I'm still certain that counselling is the right course and now I know what I'm dealing with I hope I can control things a little more.

Sorry this couldn't be a more uplifting post.

A British boy of 12 has killed himself.

2010-12-09T17:10:00.000Z

Bradley Wiseman

A schoolboy hanged himself after playground bullies terrorised him for the way he talked, it is claimed.

Bradley Wiseman, 12, who it is claimed was being targeted because of his well-spoken voice, was found at his home on Monday.

Hundreds of friends have now blasted bullies on an online memorial page who are said to have tormented Bradley at his school in Edlington, South Yorkshire.

Shelly-Louise Hindley wrote on Facebook: 'Hope their guilt follows them always and they realise the severity of what they have caused. . . Rip bradly lovee.'

Anthony Rushton added: 'You don't deserve this, no one does. Its an awful shock to everyone, we have all been hurt by this.'

Since the tragedy earlier this week, neighbours have rallied round to help the boy's 37-year-old mother.

One neighbour said: 'We're all here for her. He was a lovely lad, so polite. It is completely out of character, he never would have done it if he wasn't being bullied at school.

'They bullied him because he talked politely, he was very well spoken, you wouldn't have known he came from round here.

'He was a lovely kid and it is so sad what has happened. We are all devastated.'

Rugby -mad Bradley attended Sir Thomas Wharton Community College and played on the wing for Doncaster Rugby Union Football Club's Under-12s.

His coach John Wills said: 'He was a lot of fun. There was no evidence of him being bullied at rugby practice or during games.

'He loved rugby and would come along with his mum and brother and sister.

'Bradley was really popular with all the other boys.'

Mary McCorry, headteacher at Sir Thomas Wharton Community College, said: 'Bradley had settled into school well and there have been no reports of bullying or any problems that we are aware of.

'On behalf of everyone at Sir Thomas Wharton, we are deeply saddened to hear of the sudden death of one of our pupils.

'Bradley was a bright and popular boy and will be very much missed at school. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with his family at this difficult time.'

An investigation by South Yorkshire Police has been started following the grim discovery at 4.30pm on Monday.

A spokesman said officers were not treating the death as suspicious.

From the Daily Mail, with thanks.

//

First steps on a long road

2010-12-08T17:52:00.000Z

Things have finally started moving on the counselling front so I thought I'd post a brief update.

Yesterday morning I had a preliminary consultation with one of the psychologists running the counselling programme for adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. My local health authority has only been working in this area for 2 years and this is actually the first fully planned programme.

The programme proper won't actually start until March next year and it will be group based. In the past I've resisted any attempts to bring me into group therapy because nobody was making any effort to ensure that participants were "like minded", there was a tendency to just lump everybody suffering from emotional problems into an homogenised group.

That isn't intended to disparage anybody suffering from depression for any reason whatsoever. The point is that suffering childhood abuse brings its own unique emotional issues and, as I've said more than once in the past, only those who were abused as children have the faintest idea what it's really like.

Perhaps the most startling revelation was that I won't be the oldest person in the group by a considerable margin. One of the people I'll be meeting next March is 10 years older than me and has recently, like me taken the decision to finally face the past. One of the key traits of abuse survivors is effectively denying our past and getting on with life, albeit somewhat ineptly.

There were a couple of other things that we discussed yesterday which I'll put into a follow-up post. Hopefully they'll spark some discussion.

Life for boy's abuser and murderer

2010-12-02T17:43:00.001Z

Darren Newton

A man who murdered his girlfriend's 15-month-old son after months of filming himself abusing the little boy has been jailed for life.

Darren Newton, of Earby in Lancashire, England had denied killing Charlie Hunt but admitted 12 counts of cruelty. The baby died of head injuries in November 2009.

The prosecution at Manchester Crown Court said Newton, 32, took videos on his phone for "pleasure".

He must serve a minimum term of 24 years before applying for parole.

The jury took 40 minutes to find the factory worker guilty of murder and one count of child cruelty. They cleared him of another charge of child cruelty.

Newton named the video clips "crying, no toys in pen, ahhhh", "squeezing toe in cot", "two minutes of pain" and "shivering no water".

The latter was taken on a November night when Charlie was naked in an empty bath.

'Futile death'

In one graphic clip, titled "Happy slap", which was filmed two weeks before Charlie died, Newton was seen to slap the child 13 times on the head as he screamed and cried.

Jailing him, Justice Stephen Irwin ordered that the video clips be preserved so the parole board could watch them before he is eventually considered for release.

He told him: "It was spiteful and cruel behaviour. It was also inexplicable to any normal way of thinking.

"It was a series of repeated acts of cruelty for no obvious motive other than the wish to be cruel.

"Anyone who watches the video clips of some of what you did - and I'm convinced you recorded only some of what you did - will genuinely struggle to understand why you came to do this.

"Eventually you killed him. It was a futile and wasteful death of an innocent toddler."

This report is from BBC News. There is more here.

Welsh boys' homes: Abuse Report recommendations under review

2010-12-01T16:39:00.000Z

"Open and honest" discussions are being held to see if lessons have been learned from a report into child abuse in north Wales care homes.

The meeting involving health professionals and politicians comes on the 10th anniversary of the report.

It focused on the wide scale abuse that took place in the care system from 1974.

Report author Sir Ronald Waterhouse is to see what progress has been made against his 72 recommendations.

He was the chair of a tribunal which, over two years, heard evidence from 650 people who had been in care in north Wales since the 1970s.

Complaints were made to the inquiry about 40 homes in the old north Wales counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd, although most allegations centred on just seven.

Lost in care, a report of the tribunal of inquiry, was published in February 2000.

Delegates at the seminar at the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay include Wales' Children's Commissioner Keith Towler, whose predecessor was the first children's commissioner in the UK to be appointed as a direct result of Lost in Care.

He said: "I think it is timely a decade on for us to revisit those recommendations with the chair of the inquiry and with others to see whether we've moved on in our care for these vulnerable children.

"I'm looking forward to having an open and honest discussion with professionals and politicians."

Arranged by Voices from Care Cymru, an independent charity working with looked after children and whose patron is Sir Ronald, the seminar will also hear from Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services.

Sir Ronald will speak with health and social work professionals about the lessons learned and analyse whether local authorities across Wales are now developing and implementing effective care plans for looked-after children.

David Melding AM, chair of the Welsh assembly's all-party group on looked-after children and the sponsor for the event, said: "Lost in Care was a landmark report and it is timely to monitor the implementation of its recommendations from time to time.

"There is no doubt that the central recommendation to establish a children's commissioner for Wales has had a huge impact on the work of the assembly in raising the profile of children's issues, especially those relating to the most vulnerable like looked after children."

This report is from BBC News

Lost in Care - Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Abuse of Children in Care in the Former County Council Areas of Gwynedd and Clwyd since 1974 is available to read here

The abuse which was at the heart of the original enquiry was a truly horrendous catalogue of disaster involving boys from a number of local authority run homes who were both abused (physically, sexually and emotionally I believe) in those homes AND by a number of people, including local Councillors, who would take a child out for a day or just a night in order to abuse that boy before returning him to the home.

This episode was one of the seminal cases which changed the whole awareness of the abuse of children - and the institutional abuse of kids - which was almost endemic in many parts of England and Wales.

School sports

2010-11-29T23:01:00.000Z

From the film KES

With funding changes to school sports planned, a shift to a more competitive ethos is mooted, but there is likely to be a bitter battle for the heart of PE.

For many people PE encapsulates their unhappiest memories of school. They look back to blasted, windswept sports fields where shouting PE teachers in ill-fitting tracksuits marshalled unwilling pupils.

The classic fictional depiction is the 1969 film Kes, where Brian Glover's Mr Sugden takes part in a football match as both player and referee, awards himself a penalty and then remonstrates with Billy Casper by knocking him into the mud with a wet football.

It has that classic breeding ground for school social stigma - the picking of teams. An opportunity to further make life miserable for the group memorably referred to as the "wets, weirdos and fatties" in the sitcom, Red Dwarf.

The popular perception is that something started to change in the culture of sports and physical education in schools in the 1970s. Activities that didn't alienate the unsporty started to chip away at the dominance of competitive team sport.

But now there is to be a shift back towards competitive sport. The government is ending the ring-fencing of £162m of funding for School Sport Partnerships, which promoted co-operation in sport and PE provision between schools, as well as inter-school competitions.

Opponents say this will lead to money being used to plug gaps elsewhere in school budgets, but the government is instead focusing on its plans for Olympics-style competitions for schools.

But what everybody does agree on is the importance of PE. Adults may look back ruefully to being made to exercise in their underpants or do punishment laps of a field, but few would dispute the long-term benefits.

"Getting the regular habit of exercise ingrained controls weight later on in life," says Dr Andy Franklyn-Miller, a consultant in sports medicine.

This week his representative body, the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine, is to call for a health-focused segment to be incorporated into PE lessons.

Forged sick notes

But it's not just about obesity, Dr Franklyn-Miller says. Getting used to exercise helps avoid injuries later in life. Even basic routines like improving balance can be vital to developing children.

Educational consultant Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood, has seen children arriving in primary school with difficulties with basic movement.

Comedian John O'Farrell has unpleasant memories from life at his all-boys school.

The dreaded Cross-Country run

"They have really poor physical skills and physical strength. They are coming through 'floppy' because of [early years spent] staring at screens." It puts even more of an onus on PE teachers. And they have to make their subject fun. While you might be able to force children to learn something from academic lessons, a string of early Kes-style experiences might make some shun sport in adult life.

"My school didn't do football, so I was forced to do rugby. I was small and skinny... was thrown the wet, muddy ball and everyone tried to jump on my head."

Passing the ball immediately, even to the opposition, was O'Farrell's solution. He then tried basketball, but as a late-developer did not like playing in the "skins" team, without shirts.

"I tried to shoot for the hoop without revealing my bald, pre-pubescent armpits. The teacher would say 'shoot, O'Farrell, shoot… no, not underarm'."

O'Farrell started forging sick-notes from his mother and soon developed a cottage industry performing the same service for other boys.

Former headteacher Roger Hurn, author of 101 Dance Ideas, goes into schools to encourage the use of dance. He says children can be put off sport by bad experiences, as he was by a strict, rugby-mad PE teacher.

Danger

"I never played rugby again, the experience under that teacher was so horrible. I won't even watch it. It has a negative effect."

Modern PE is aimed at avoiding the above scenarios. A plethora of options have sprung up in recent years.

A recent government study found 37% of schools offered cheerleading. At a fifth of schools a child can learn yoga. Individual sports like boxing are on the rise, but traditional team games like rugby, hockey and netball are in decline.

Peripatetic practitioner William Allen, author of Games, Ideas and Activities for Primary PE, will try anything to get children's enthusiasm flaring. Street dance, tri-golf and American football are among the activities he uses.

"PE is now a gateway to doing things outside school," says Mr Allen.

But an older generation of PE teachers also remember great things being done in schools. Now retired, Ray Twentyman taught PE for more than four decades before retiring last year and focusing on coaching young athletes.

Starting out in the 60s at a school in Liverpool, he recalls excellent provision of football, rugby, cross country, tennis, athletics, and volleyball, among others.

"It was unusually good, but there were lots of other good schools," he says.

Cautious mindset

But by the 1980s PE teaching was becoming more prescribed, with the National Curriculum meaning many boxes had to be ticked.

"You did six-week blocks of a sport. I defy anybody to learn a game properly in six weeks," says Mr Twentyman.

Teachers also have a more cautious mindset.

"I liked kids to get stuck in. I think today, if it's raining or windy, they won't go out and play," he says.

His colleague Chris Sproat, now also retired, was disappointed at the limits the evolving health and safety culture imposed. Instead of just taking a group of children for a run outside school premises, forms had to be diligently filled.

Both teachers and children might want things to be a little freer.

"There are kids who like structured sport, but for the ones who don't we need to be more creative about encouraging them to be physically active," says Tim Gill, author of No Fear: Growing Up in a Risk Averse Society.

"That might mean introducing more fun, more choice and maybe a little bit of danger."

But whatever happens, the place of the brutal Mr Sugdens is hopefully gone. With funding cuts to school sports planned, a shift to a more competitive ethos is mooted, but there is likely to be a bitter battle for the heart of PE.

Below is a selection of your memories - good and bad - of PE

"I hated PE and our bullying, abusive secondary school PE teachers succeeded in convincing me that I was a fat, talentless no-hoper who just wasn't cut out for any sort of physical activity. (In reality, I wasn't, but as almost the smallest child in the class I certainly wasn't going to make a great impression at any of the school team sports). It was exactly the opposite of what a physical education should aim to achieve, and it's taken me twenty years to fully appreciate the importance of regular exercise and gain enough fitness to pursue it. Competitive sports can offer kids opportunity and a life-long healthy activity and I'm all for that, but the likes of aerobics, dance and martial arts can also achieve essential fitness gains and are more accessible after leaving school than, for example, netball. If we focused on the desired outcome - a generation of fit, healthy kids - then it would be easy to devise a menu of options to suit all tastes and talents. Of course, the inevitable cuts in funding won't help."

From the BBC

Of course if you've read my Story (above) then you'll know why I've posted this story which started about the current round of spending cuts but finished up reminding me of just how oppressive and abusive school PE used to so often be. I hope it's changed - but you can see from this that the wounds are still very raw.

/

Red Balloon (UK) is for kids who are bullied.

2010-11-28T13:50:00.001Z

The aim of Red Balloons is the recovery of bullied children.

We provide an 'intensive care' full-time education for children aged between 9 and 18 who are unable to go to school because they have been severely bullied. At least half of the students we take have attempted or seriously considered suicide.

We promise the students whom we accept a safe environment with clear boundaries for behaviour, and an individual full-time academic, pastoral and therapeutic programme.

Once the students have regained their confidence and are able to cope academically and socially, we support them in their return to mainstream school, their entry to further education or to employment.

Their website has details of the Centres they run and those they are planning, together with more details and opportunities to donate towards their work.

If you can watch the programme about Bullying linked in our sidebar (it's on BBC iPlayer and so may not be available in some countries) - but that is about the work of the Red Ballon Centre in London and features several 12 to 14 year old who have been victims of bullying and who are trying to overcome their traumas.

More information from Red Balloon Learner Centres

/.

Bill targets homophobic and trans. bullying in UK schools

2010-11-27T17:53:00.000Z

St. George's School
Hertfordshire

Education secretary Michael Gove has said that the government will work with gay and anti-bullying charities to tackle homophobia in schools.

A white paper on education released yesterday said that homophobic bullying was on the rise and schools must take it seriously.

It said two-thirds of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils are bullied because of their sexuality, while straight students are often subjected to anti-gay abuse too.

The white paper added: “Schools should take incidents of prejudice-based bullying especially seriously. It is important that they educate children about the differences between different groups of people and create a culture of respect and understanding.”

It cited a Christian school in Hertfordshire, St George’s Church of England school, which claims to have seen “near elimination of overt homophobia” through staff training on how to tackle the issue.

The document says that the government will “reduce unnecessary prescription and bureaucracy” and ensure that headteachers “feel empowered to do what they think is right”.

Mr Gove said yesterday that “political leaders and all of society” must tackle the “growing prejudice” of anti-gay harassment in schools.

Responding to a question from out gay Tory MP Iain Stewart, he said: “Homophobic bullying is on the rise in our schools, and homophobic terms are increasingly used towards gay students and straight students in a way that seeks to undermine the tolerance that we have built up over the past 15 years.

“We therefore need to work with organisations such as Stonewall and the Anti-Bullying Alliance, and to shine the light on schools such as St George’s Church of England school, which has done a fantastic job in tackling homophobic bullying.

“This requires work not only by school leaders but by political leaders and all of society to tackle a growing prejudice that is scarring our tolerant society.”

A Stonewall spokesman told PinkNews.co.uk: “We’re delighted that, after some years of discussion, both the nature of different families and homophobic bullying feature in the white paper.

“This is a hugely important step forward. We’ll continue to work with ministers, Ofsted and others until all schools are tackling the prejudice-based bullying which still blights the lives of too many young people.”

from Pink News, with thanks.

3rd man sentenced in Cornwall sex abuse case

2010-11-26T15:46:00.000Z

This picture is posed
by an actress

A third man involved in a paedophile ring which police say abused dozens of girls has been convicted of sex crimes.

James Machin was found guilty at Truro Crown Court of 10 sex offences relating to girls under 13. Two others were convicted of sex abuse charges in 2008.
Police described the abuse by the men in the Camborne area, found in a three-year investigation, as "horrific". One victim was five years old.
Investigations began in December 2007 after concerns from a victim's parent.
Victims given drugs
Two girls were abused by the same three men, the court heard.
John Barrett, 49, from the Camborne area, abused two girls, who were aged five and seven when the crimes first started, and passed them on to John Wrey to do the same.
Barrett was jailed for 14 years and 6 months in 2008 for 16 sexual offences.
Wrey, 55, from Hayle, who was arrested at the same time as Barrett, is serving a five-and-a-year sentence for his part in the abuse after he was also convicted in 2008.
On Friday a jury decided, after two days of deliberations, that Machin was also guilty of similar sex offences against the girls which Barrett had passed on to him.
Machin, 54, from Falmouth, who had denied all 10 counts, has yet to be sentenced.
The court was told Barrett and Machin took two young girls to a house at Flushing, near Falmouth, where they abused them.
The girls were given cigarettes and sometimes had to sniff drugs during their ordeals.
Reporting restrictions on the investigation, named Operation Lakeland, have now been lifted.

And the report continues . . .
A major paedophile ring which abused about 30 young girls in Cornwall has been smashed by police.
The trail of abuse can only be reported now, after Falmouth kitchen fitter James Machin, 54, was convicted at Truro Crown Court of a series of sexual offences.
His conviction, along with those of John Barrett and John Wrey two years ago, is the conclusion of a three-year investigation by police.
Barrett, 49, a builder from Camborne, was jailed for 14 years in 2008, while 55-year-old Wrey, from Hayle, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years.
Earlier this month a fourth man, 46-year-old Alan Wills from Camborne, was convicted of sexual offences against children at Truro Crown Court.
Although no link was established between Wills and the others, two of the victims were abused by all four men.

According to the investigating officer, the abuse has left a trail of mental scars which may never be healed.
Machin was introduced to the victims in 2005 by convicted paedophile Barrett, who had already been grooming and abusing them before passing them on to other men to do the same.
The court heard Barrett and Machin took the young girls to an empty holiday cottage in Flushing near Falmouth that Machin had a key for.
The victims, some as young as five, were repeatedly raped and abused, with the prosecution describing the offences as "abominable" and "depraved".
'Never forget'
Senior investigating officer Det Insp Simon Snell said: "We are talking about the rapes of very young children for a number of years.
"The abuse has been really awful."
Det Insp Snell believes the children, who are all undergoing counselling for their abuse, will never recover.
He said: "I don't feel there is such a thing as closure.
"They are all at different stages in their recovery from this awful traumatic situation.

"Some of them may get over it, but my personal view is that it is something they will never forget for the rest of their lives."
Officers were accompanied by staff from local children's services when they interviewed victims to ensure that children were treated correctly.
Det Insp Snell added: "It is the most horrific abuse you can possibly imagine.
"I have got 29 years service as a police officer and the abuse I have seen in this investigation is probably the most serious I have ever had to deal with."
Police suspect that despite having "exhausted every line of inquiry" there will other victims.
The mother of one of Machin's victims said she felt "extremely angry", but also guilty.
Victim on drugs
The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: "I didn't look after her, although I tried.
"I did feel guilty because a parent's job is to look after her children."
Since the offences she has discovered that her daughter, who is now living with friends, has been taking drugs.
She said: "I believe it was a lot to do with this, trying to block it out."
She said her daughter needed continued counselling.
"She's trying so hard to get on the straight and narrow, to do the right thing, but because her head is so messed up she doesn't know what to do.
"She's just completely all over the place."

These reports are from BBC News.

From Parent Channel tv: bullying: advice

2010-11-25T11:14:00.001Z

Find more stuff from the Parent Channel here.

/.

Recognising Child Abuse

2010-11-24T14:36:00.000Z

It's important we get the facts about child abuse but it's just as vital we don't panic and over-protect our children.

Parenting expert Eileen Hayes wrote this article in February 2004. This article was last reviewed by Heather Welford in September 2008.

There are four main types of abuse:

Physical - when parents or other adults deliberately injure a child or do nothing to prevent it. This not only includes physical violence but also giving children alcohol or drugs. The most serious cases can result in brain damage and even death.
Emotional - when parents continuously fail to show love and affection to a child. This might include sarcasm, threats, criticism, yelling and taunting. The effects are serious and long-lasting.
Neglect - when parents fail to meet a child's basic needs for food, warmth, clothing or medical attention. Neglected children may be very withdrawn or very aggressive, and can develop health problems or have difficulty coping at school.
Sexual - when an adult, or sometimes an older child, uses a child for sexual gratification. This might mean forcing a child to carry out sexual acts, or deliberately showing a child adult pornographic videos or magazines, and filming or photographing children in a sexual way. Both boys and girls are sexually abused, and it can happen to very young children - even babies - as well as older ones. The effects of sexual abuse are enduring and highly damaging. Some children who are abused in this way may go on to become abusers themselves.

Although parents worry a great deal about paedophiles and 'stranger danger,' it's important to remember that most sexual abuse happens in the family home and is carried out by someone known to the child.

Key facts

It's estimated that at least one child dies every week in England and Wales as a result of physical abuse. Babies are particularly vulnerable and are five times more likely to be killed than all other ages.
Approximately 30,000 children are currently on child protection registers. A child's name is placed on the register when health or social services staff are concerned that the child's at risk of abuse.
Eight out of ten young people who've experienced physical abuse have also seen violence between their parents and carers.

Talking to your children about abuse

It often isn't possible to protect your child from stories of abuse or abduction in the news. If your child is upset by a reported case, stress these cases are very rare and that almost all children lead safe and happy lives; only a tiny percentage of adults hurt children in any way.

Getting help

If you have any concerns about a child's safety, trust your instincts and take action to make sure any abuse is stopped.

Call the NSPCC's free 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 5000 (textphone 0800 056 0566) or email help@nspcc.org to discuss your concerns
Call the police - if a child is in danger, contact them immediately
Talk to your GP,

This is taken from a BBC Health information page, with thanks.

/.

In Court the weak are punished along with the violent

2010-11-23T09:07:00.003Z

A student who admitted downloading and distributing images of children being sexually abused was sentenced to three years on probation at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.

Garrett Fox, 20, from Belfast pleaded guilty to 14 charges of possessing 144 indecent images of children being abused. He also plead guilty to three further counts of distributing indecent images.

The judge imposed a three-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order. The order bans Fox from seeking to get a job which would bring him into contact with children and also prevents him from having unsupervised contact with children without their guardian's permission. Fox was also banned from owning or using any internet capable device which does not have software on it which allows police to monitor his internet activity.

Judge Philip Babington told a weeping Fox that while he accepted there was little risk of him reoffending, "one must not forget" that the children depicted in the images are the real victims. "The advent of the internet has allowed true paedophiles to spread their evil around the globe and insnare vulnerable people such as this defendant," the judge added.

Prosecuting lawyer Gary McCrudden told the court that on a planned operation, police raided Fox's parents home and seized two laptop computers and a number of DVD's. Mr McCrudden said officers found the images of children being abused. He added that while most were spread among the least offensive categories of one to three, there were 23 images in categories four and five.

According to the guideline authorities, pictures in categories four and five can depict the most graphic images. Mr McCrudden said the investigation also revealed that 17 images had been forwarded on to someone known only as "cjrhorny" but that whatever had been sent was unable to be categorised.

After he was arrested and interviewed Fox, who is currently studying at Northumbria University, made full admissions to police, claiming that some of them had been downloaded when he was about 15-years-old. Fox also said and that he would have sent indecent images of himself "to people he claimed would have been older".

Defence lawyer Patrick Taggart claimed the offences arose from "an innocent journey of sexual discovery - his interest lay in people of his own age".

In handing down the probation term, Judge Babington said it appeared the distribution offences were more akin to the "swapping" of images with people "older and certainly much more involved in this activity than the defendant. It seems that this (swapping) was to people less innocent than he was, indeed very much the opposite," the judge said, adding that one doctor had opined that Fox himself "was the victim of paedophiles" on the internet.

Thanks to BBC News for this report.

While undoubtedly Garrett Fox has been a naughty boy according to our laws I can't help feeling deeply uneasy about why he was interested in the first place. If he started collecting stuff at fifteen years old then I have to wonder what sort of upbringing he had in a part of the UK where there is still a very high incidence of corporal punishment and violence in home-life, when compared to the remainder of the UK.

I kind of feel that we're not being told everything here. My Granny used to say that there's no smoke without fire.

Bullying is also a form of abuse

2010-11-19T13:48:00.000Z

Most people are aware of the principal forms of abuse and for better or worse we tend to label them individually. Thus we have sexual abuse, physical abuse and psychological abuse (although I would suggest that psychological abuse is an inevitable concomitant of the other forms).

There is, however a form of abuse that usually carries a different label and that’s because to recognise it for what it really is would force a lot of parents, teachers and others with responsibility for children out of a comfort zone.

I’m talking, of course, about bullying and, whether you want to face it or not, bullying is a form of abuse.

If you’ve read my story you’ll be aware that I was bullied throughout my time at Grammar school. This started with teasing and name calling as well as references to my sexuality; I was 11 at the time! Realising that I was physically weak and unable to defend myself seemed to inspire much bigger and stronger boys to take things further and start physically assaulting me.

Masters chose to interpret the sometimes blatant injuries inflicted on me as “boys will be boys” style roughhousing, a normal part of Grammar school life; apparently. Had the Masters known the trouble I got into at home over the damage to my uniform, and to me, would they have taken a different attitude? I have a disturbing feeling that the answer to that is no.

There’s an old saying that a successful lie requires the consent of at least 2 people; one to tell the lie and one to accept it. Masters and Parents alike chose to accept my lies that my own clumsiness had caused my injuries and nobody bothered to question how “I walked into a door, Sir” could result in a torn blazer and trousers, or the contents of my satchel strewn along a corridor.

There are two principal reasons why I consider bullying to be a form of abuse.

In the first place, bullies are opportunistic and prepared to act with almost blinding speed when presented with the smallest window of opportunity. In that respect the boys who bullied me were no different to the predatory youth who made my life hell with his sexual attentions.

In the second place, and I’ve talked to other people who were bullied, the victim’s response is often alarmingly similar to that shown during other forms of abuse. The lies and denial are the same as is the depression. The motivation to silence is very simple; fear of reprisal.

When you can’t understand why this is happening to you it’s unbearable. The only thing I gained from this experience was an almost inhuman bladder capacity; I was terrified of having to use the boys’ school toilets.

'Rogue Clerics' is a book by Anson Shupe

2010-11-18T13:39:00.001Z

An advert for this book appeared today on It's Getting Better - my, er, newsy blog.
I thought some of you might be interested, even though it was published in 2007.
I should point out that I haven't read this book, I haven't even read anyone's review of it. I simply saw the advert and thought you might like to see it too.
Micky
"During the past several years the mass media in the United States has been awash with reports of priestly pedophilia, ecclesiastical cover-up, and clerical intimidation or financial settlements intended to silence victims. Based on journalistic accounts, or scholarly research, it might be assumed that this is a recent phenomenon. Journalist reports began only within the past few years. Similarly, most sociologists of religion and particularly specialists in deviance and criminology did not reflect awareness of clerical misbehavior in their work. Despite this, Anson Shupe shows that clergy deviance, whether it is sexual or otherwise, is not merely a recent problem. It is as old as the church itself and is inevitably bound to recur due to the nature of religious groups.
"This comprehensive analysis offers the first up-to-date analysis of sexual, economic, and authoritative clergy malfeasance across faiths and denominational authority structures. Drawing on examples taken from antiquity up until the present day, and using reports by historians, theologians, church spokespersons, therapists, social scientists, and journalists, Shupe critically evaluate clergy deviant behavior, dividing it into various types. He also makes use of the therapeutic literature, addressing victimization at the level of the individual, church, and community at large. In this way, he compares the response of the clergy to victims' attempts to mobilize movements calling for church reform. Perhaps most controversial, this book considers the possible relati

"Anson Shupe is professor of sociology at the joint campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and is a member of the graduate faculties at both institutions. A prolific writer dealing with religious movements, clergy misconduct, violence, and inequality, he has most recently authored Agents of Discord: Deprogramming, Pseudo-Science and the American Anitcult Movement with Susan E. Darnell."

The publishers website from which you can preview and buy the ebook or a printed version, I understand.

/.

London Court of Appeal: Diocese MUST compensate boys it abused

2010-11-13T09:57:00.000Z

The Diocese of Middlesbrough has been refused the right to appeal against a court ruling that found it responsible for an £8 million compensation claim by victims of child sexual abuse.

The Court of Appeal in London rejected the diocese’s application to appeal against what is believed to be the largest award to abuse victims in English history.

The diocese was found liable in October for the claims of 158 former pupils who were abused at St William’s Community Home, in Market Weighton, near York, between 1960 and 1992.

Judges ruled that the De La Salle Christian Brothers, which staffed the home, had no legal responsibility, leaving the Catholic Child Welfare Society of the diocese liable for the compensation claim.

One of the victims, Graham Baverstock of Catterick, North Yorkshire, said he was pleased with the ruling.

“The Church has tried to evade their responsibility to the victims all along and they now need to say sorry,” he said. “We have been campaigning for years for them to apologise.”

Mr Baverstock, 52, was 14 when he first was sent to the home, which provided residential care and education for boys with emotional and behavioural problems, and spent more than a year there. He said he was systematically abused in 1973 and 1974 and subsequently attempted suicide.

Christian Brother James Carragher, now 74, who was principal at the home for more than 20 years, began serving a 14-year prison sentence in 2004 for a long list of sex crimes against students.

Attorney David Greenwood, who is representing the victims, said he hoped the Middlesbrough diocese would work to reach compensation settlements with each abuse survivor.

Following the Court of Appeal decision, the only option remaining for the diocese is to appeal directly to the Supreme Court.

“Our lawyers are considering the matter,” a diocesan spokesman said.

We found this story in the Catholic Herald

'Zero abuse' of kids in gay families - but 8.3% reported in 'straight' ones.

2010-11-11T16:46:00.000Z

A small study of children brought up by lesbian couples found that not one reported any sexual or physical abuse.

The research comes from the longest-running study into lesbian parenting, carried out by the UCLA’s Williams Institute. The study is now in its 24th year.

Researchers asked the 17-year-old daughters and sons of lesbian mothers about sexual abuse, sexual orientation and sexual behaviour.

Not one of the 78 young people said they had ever been physically or sexually abused by a parent or other caregiver.

In contrast, larger studies of American adolescents have found that 26 per cent say they have been physically abused and 8.3 per cent say they have been sexually abused by a parent or caregiver.

Of the 78 brought up by lesbian couples, 2.8 per cent described themselves as gay or lesbian. While none of the girls identified as exclusively lesbian, almost 20 per cent rated themselves as being bisexual to varying extents.

The study’s authors, Nanette Gartrell, Henry Boss and Naomi Goldberg, wrote: “A key finding in the current study was that none of the . . adolescents reported physical or sexual abuse by a parent or other caregiver. This finding contradicts the notion, offered in opposition to parenting by gay and lesbian people, that same-sex parents are likely to abuse their offspring sexually.

“The absence of child abuse in lesbian mother families is particularly noteworthy, because victimisation of children is pervasive and its consequences can be devastating.”

They concluded that the findings have implications for healthcare professionals, policymakers and child protection experts “who seek family models in which violence does not occur”.

We found this story on Pink News whom we thank.

Parents who adopt abused children hampered by lack of support

2010-11-07T16:41:00.000Z

extracted from an article by Tracie McVeigh

Gay adoptive family
hopefully without
these extra challenges

Parents who adopt are being failed by a woeful lack of support and understanding of the needs of the country's most vulnerable children.

“While a shortage of adopters means that more than 85,000 children are in care across the UK, many families who do adopt complain of being unprepared for the difficulties and of facing threadbare or non-existent support services” said Jonathan Pearce, chief executive of the charity Adoption UK.

"Once children are adopted from the care system they become forgotten children. There's this 'happily ever after' myth, but the reality is far from that," he said, adding that many parents feel judged when they go back to social services asking for help.

Fiona, 42, from Perthshire
For parents trying to do what's best for their children, not knowing the full extent of their early experiences can be a huge hindrance. For Fiona, 42, from Perthshire, it was not until her daughter reached puberty and started to neglect her personal hygiene that she decided to go back to the adoption agency to check if there was any information that hadn't been shared with them at the time.

"When we had our daughter placed with us aged six, we were told she had been neglected by her birth mother who had learning difficulties and didn't really understand her needs. When at 13 her behavior became quite strange, I went back and demanded to read the files. That's when I found out she had been abused physically and, it was suspected, sexually," she said. "I was still offered absolutely zero help or support afterwards, although I was so disgusted with the social work team concerned that I don't think I'd have accepted any from them anyway. But at least then I finally understood what we were dealing with."

Hannah, 44, from Leicestershire, adopted Tom, now 14, 10 years ago.
"Then far less was understood about brain development and behaviour. But today I still hear adoptive parents asking the same questions I was asking, so I wonder what has changed.

"The thing I was never told is that you cannot parent these children like an ordinary child – you can't have a naughty stair or time out or controlled crying because you reinforce their understanding of abandonment. My son was weeing all over the place and his bedroom stank to high heaven, but only later was it explained that he was recreating the smells of his cot when he was a baby.

"The social workers kept telling me it was fine; he was attached because he was happy to give cuddles, it was normal. But they didn't understand, my son would give any stranger who came to the door cuddles – he just wanted adult attention.

"I was made aware that children like my son would need extra care. I totally believed that, give it three years and he would be as if he was born to me. What actually happened was that he was extremely distressed by his early experiences. With hindsight he was showing classic developmental trauma. He would push me away at the same time as wanting a hug, he would destroy things, threaten me, have tantrums that seemed to come out of nowhere, he would threaten to hurt himself and talked about killing himself – which came as such a shock as I did not realise four-year-olds could think like that.

"He would punch himself in the face, bang his head against the wall, his speech was delayed and he found it very difficult to be away from me at school. He was permanently excluded at the age of nine, unable to read or write.

"I asked for help from day one. I was told in a letter: 'There is nothing wrong with this child and you need to get on with being a family'. I discovered about Family Futures, a therapist unit in London, but was refused funding. When I finally got a charity to pay for an assessment four years later they said it was probably too late.

"As Tom got older he started to run away. I had police helicopters out searching for him when he went missing for 11 hours aged eight. One day on a walk with the dogs he came at me with a huge stick and then started throwing boulders at me. I was scared he was going to kill me. At the end of that tantrum he ran away from me and fell down sobbing that he wanted to die. It got worse and worse.

"I never stopped fighting for him and eventually got him into a residential unit at great cost to the local social services. They all agreed they did not have the right services available locally, but it took years to get to that stage. I had to prove I had tried everything.

"Support until then was non-existent, ineffectual or patronising. I was asked by emergency social services one evening as he was threatening me with a knife: "Have you tried after-school clubs?"

"In between this he was a lovely, kind boy. But being left to struggle was horrendous, its taken on a toll on my health and my income. My son is now 14 and doing well, but with hindsight had I known what I know now, things could have been a lot different for him, a lot earlier."

What is The Grey Room?

2010-11-06T20:03:00.002Z

Malcolm writes: The title of this blog "Leaving The Grey Room" was my idea. My original intention was to create a blog to pass on any helpful information from my forthcoming counselling sessions. After talking to Micky the idea evolved into a much broader concept; to reach out to anybody who has survived abuse in childhood and to break the taboo that surrounds this pernicious evil. Now I'd like to tell you the real meaning of the title...

In its most literal sense the Grey Room is my childhood and teenage bedroom. When I was 12 I was, for the first time in my life, allowed to choose the colour scheme when Dad decided my room needed redecorating. Almost without hesitation, and to my parent’s discomfort, I chose grey and resisted all pressure to select a brighter colour.

The colour seemed to epitomise my life at that time; there was hardly any fun left in it. Continuing abuse coupled with bullying at school was causing depression and I seemed to be constantly in trouble at home. I wasn’t allowed out even for a little while on school days all I did was study and practice my violin although, in fairness violin was my one joy. To make matters worse, First and Second Formers at my school wore grey shirts to identify them as the lowest of the school’s low.

I was being isolated from the boys I’d grown up with simply because they all went to the local Secondary Modern school while I went to Grammar school and my parents had high expectations.

My room was also the place to which I was banished following physical punishment, usually with the words “now get out of my sight!” ringing in my ears while I hastily readjusted my clothes. Thus my grey room became synonymous with punishment and imprisonment.

The Grey Room is also a metaphor for the effect those various forms of childhood abuse have had on my adult life. Depression, mood swings and a general feeling of inadequacy have been an almost constant feature and all too often the outlook has seemed well, grey.

My hope is that when I start my counselling sessions in December I can start to metaphorically repaint The Grey Room with a brighter colour scheme.

Nursery "provided an ideal environment" for woman's child abuse"

2010-11-04T15:44:00.001Z

Jim Gould
- Report

A Plymouth nursery where a worker sexually abused children "provided an ideal environment" for her to abuse, an inquiry has found.

The review into abuse at Little Ted's nursery found that a lack of formal staff supervision was partly to blame.

Vanessa George, 40, from Plymouth, was jailed last year for a minimum of seven years after admitting abusing toddlers at the nursery and photographing it.

No other staff at Little Ted's were involved in the abuse.

The privately-run nursery was closed in June last year when George was arrested and police began an inquiry into the abuse, which started in December 2008.

A new pre-school facility called Greenshoots opened at the site two months ago.

Plymouth City Council initiated the serious case review into what happened at Little Ted's, in Laira, so that lessons could be learnt.

George admitted seven sexual assaults and six counts of making and distributing indecent pictures of children.

She used a mobile phone to take pictures of herself abusing toddlers and sent them to Colin Blanchard, 39, from Rochdale, who forwarded them to Angela Allen, 39, from Nottingham.

'Explicit' culture

Allen admitted four child sex assaults and one count of distributing an indecent image and was jailed for at least five years.

Blanchard pleaded guilty to 17 offences relating to indecent images of children and two sexual assaults on children and is awaiting sentence.

They shared indecent images over the internet after meeting on the social networking website Facebook.

The Plymouth Safeguarding Children Board review concluded that Little Ted's "provided an ideal environment within which George could abuse".

While evidence pointed to George having no sexual interest in children until she came into contact with Blanchard, it found there appeared to have been a complete lack of recognition of a culture in which explicit sexual references about adults in conversation were the norm.

The review concluded that there was a "weak governance framework" at the private nursery with "no clear lines of accountability".

It said the environment enabled a culture to develop in which staff did not feel able to challenge some inappropriate behaviour by George.

Staff 'worried'

Staff became increasingly uncomfortable and worried about George's behaviour, but felt they had nowhere to go with these feelings, it said.

It found an informal recruitment process was also partly to blame.

Because nurseries have had to be registered with the education watchdog Ofsted since 2001, the case review also looked at whether Ofsted's regulation regime was sufficiently thorough.

An inspection of Little Ted's in 2008, several months before George began abusing children there, rated the nursery as "good" for protecting children from harm or neglect.However, from staff interviews and discussions with parents as well as a review of the records, it was apparent that Little Ted's did not provide a safe, positive environment for children in its care.

The report said: "This would indicate that either the individual inspections were not rigorous enough, or the framework for inspection is not adequate."

However it found there was no indication "that any professional could have reasonably predicted that George might be a risk to children".

In a statement, Ofsed responded to the findings by saying: "Ofsted has already implemented a number of changes in the way we work as a result of this review and to address the recommendations made."

It said it had improved its complaints process and the way it shared information with local authorities.

'No stone unturned'

Brian Vincent, councillor for Plymouth's Efford and Lipson ward, said he was happy that "no stone's been left unturned" in the review.

He said: "I spoke with some of the parents ahead of this review and their main concern was that it wouldn't be a full one.

"I think they'll now be reassured because of the great length and depth that's gone into it.

"Once they realise this, they can get on with their lives and underneath it all that's what they want - to get back to normal."

The serious case review detailed a number of lessons learnt from the abuse, including the danger of mobile phones within day care settings, and an urgent need to develop effective staff supervision.

Staff need training to help recognise potential signs of abuse and to become confident in responding to the behaviour of colleagues, it added.

In its final conclusion, the report said while there were a number of factors that came together to support a culture where abuse was possible, ultimate responsibility must rest with George.

Thanks to BBC News for this report.

'it's for the kids - they are the future'

2010-11-03T22:01:00.004Z

Actor Ricky Tomlinson has made a £1m donation to a children's charity in Liverpool.

Ronald McDonald House provides overnight accommodation for families of patients staying at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

The donation has helped fund a new £1.5m unit for 15 families who need to stay for more than six months. The Royle Family star declined to comment on the donation. However, the charity confirmed the gift.\

'Such a difference'
Jan Thomas, director of Ronald McDonald House, said: "We are absolutely overwhelmed at Ricky's modesty and generosity. He has made such a difference to the families who need to stay at Ronald McDonald House (RMH)."

The charity currently provides accommodation for 69 parents and families. The new flats will include a bedroom, kitchen, dining and lounge facilities and bathroom. Ms Thomas said Mr Tomlinson had made the donation two years ago after visiting the charity and they had kept the secret ever since.

"His accountant rang us and said Eric Tomlinson wants to make a donation," she said.

"We didn't know who Eric Tomlinson was. Then we realised it was Ricky."
She added: "I asked him why he wanted to give the donation and he said, 'it's for the kids - they are the future'."

Thanks to the BBC for this story You can read more here.

Both Micky and I have unpleasant memories of being in hospital as children, feeling lonely, abandoned and frightened because our Mum’s couldn’t stay with us.

When children have to stay in hospital for an extended period the distress for them and their families must be awful. Well done and well said, Ricky Tomlinson!

Micky: I certainly have bad memories of being rushed into hospital at the age of 7 or 8 with pneumonia (it had been a killer of kids). I fell asleep in the doctor's car and only awoke some time later - just for a moment - to see my Mummy and Daddy beside my bed.

Later, when I woke again it was to be told they'd gone home to look after my sister and brother.
"Just let me pull these down and turn over onto your side. Just draw your knees up, there's a good boy!"

"Doctor - can you feel what I can?"

"Mr Johnson - this boy . . . can you feel . . .you can't?"

I may have been quite wrong but all I could sense was apparently endless people putting their fingers up my bottom and sticking needles in.

I think Ricky Tomlinson has done kids (and their parents) an huge favour!

..
Malcolm: My first remembered experience of hospital was as a 3 year old when I had my tonsils removed. Petworth Cottage hospital didn't have a children's ward so I was in a full size bed, with side bars, on an adult ward.

My home village was so remote that Mummy could only visit me once, 2 days after I'd had surgery. When she did visit I was terribly upset that she wouldn't take me home so I threw a full scale toddler tantrum, climbed up the side bars and fell all the way to the floor before anybody could stop me.

For the majority of the time I was in hospital, over a week thanks to banging my head, they kept me sedated "for my own good". Every time I woke up I cried for my Mummy so they gave me jelly & ice cream before putting me under again.

Stories of childhood abuse

2010-11-02T20:40:00.001Z

Both our Story Pages have now been posted for you to read.

Just click on the tabs under the picture.

A third 'Story page' is coming soon.

We'd like to debate some of the issues raised in these personal accounts and are planning to do this on the general blog so that you can join in by using Comments and Emails.

If you email us we both receive a copy and one of us will always reply to you.

If you are a survivor of abuse and would like to share your own story, whatever form your ordeal took, you can do so (under a pen name if you wish). Simply email us and either include your account in the text or attach it as a Word or Pages document or you could arrange to give us access and publish it privately as a Google document.

If you'd like to discuss things with us privately prior to submitting your own story of abuse then you're very welcome to do so.

This is a place where you can feel safe to publish your own story - perhaps for the very first time - and be sure that you'll receive a sympathetic response because we've been through it too.

/

Abuse Investigations: 'too often the child's voice was lost'

2010-10-28T17:24:00.001+01:00

Child protection has been under the spotlight following the failure of social workers in the London borough of Haringey to prevent the abuse and death of 17-month-old Peter Connelly in 2007.

The first review of his death was rejected as unsatisfactory by Ofsted and a second was commissioned. Both were published in full earlier this week.

Child's views

Ofsted automatically carries out its own review of inquiries into these very serious cases of child abuse. Inspectors said some reviews had "insufficient consideration" of the child's individual views and needs.

The report said: "Too often the focus on the child was lost; adequate steps were not taken to establish the wishes and feelings of children and young people, and their voice was not sufficiently heard."

Inspectors said the professionals involved had not been challenging enough.

"The statements of parents or others in the family should not have been accepted at face value; individual professionals and agencies should have questioned their own and others' views, decisions and actions; and there were shortcomings in the supervision and intervention by managers."

Ofsted also found eight of the reviews took more than two years to complete - the majority were completed in under a year.

However, the quality of serious case reviews is improving: of the 147 serious case reviews inspected, 62 (42%) were judged to be good, 62 (42%) adequate and 23 (16%) inadequate.

Last year, of the 173 reviews covered, 40 (23%) were judged to be good, 74 (43%) adequate and 59 inadequate (34%).

'Encouraging'

Chief inspector Christine Gilbert said it was encouraging that more reviews were being judged good, with fewer reviews inadequate.

"The case studies highlight the complexities of the situations which social workers and others are responding to. In undertaking these reviews, agencies have been able to reflect on what happened and learn from their experience," Ms Gilbert said.

Serious case reviews are carried out by bodies known as local safeguarding children's boards, who oversee the work of various agencies involved in child welfare, including social services, education, health services and the police.

Chairman of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, Baroness Shireen Ritchie, said: "Councils are working tirelessly to improve how they identify and protect children at risk from neglect and abuse, and an outside perspective does help.

"When things tragically go wrong they need to be examined. There is important work to be done within the police and NHS as well as at a local government level, and Ofsted also has a role to play in making things better."

This is an extract from a longer article here.

Lessons on gay history cut homophobic bullying in north London school

2010-10-27T10:46:00.001+01:00

• Abuse and harassment 'more or less eliminated'
• Classes to be shared with teachers around country

by Jessica Shepherd and Sue Learner
A north London school which has developed lessons on gay historical figures who suffered persecution claims to have succeeded in "more or less eliminating homophobic bullying" in its classrooms and playgrounds over the last five years.

The life story of the wartime code-breaker Alan Turing is among those being used to tackle homophobia. Authors Oscar Wilde and James Baldwin and artist Andy Warhol also feature.

Now Stoke Newington secondary plans to share the lessons with hundreds of primary and secondary school teachers. By the summer, it will have trained more than a hundred teachers in how to "educate and celebrate" being gay.

Turing, a mathematician who cracked German codes in the second world war, was prosecuted in 1952 for his homosexuality, which was then a crime. He was forced to decide between prison and taking female hormones to reduce his libido, and chose the latter. An inquest into his death – two years after his prosecution – returned a verdict of suicide.

Last year, Gordon Brown offered a posthumous government apology for the way Turing had been treated for being gay.

Elly Barnes, a music teacher, devised the lesson plans and training course with the help of colleagues. Her concern began when she heard a pupil say their "pen was so gay" when it snapped in two. Barnes's aim is to "eradicate homophobia from all schools" by giving staff the confidence and resources required to tackle the prejudice.

Earlier this month, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission published a report, How Fair is Britain?, which found two-thirds of lesbian, gay and transgender students had suffered homophobic bullying, and 17% had received death threats.

Nearly half of secondary school teachers in England believe homophobic bullying is common. Only one in six believes their school is active in promoting the rights of gay pupils, the commission found.

"Many schools haven't even begun to deal with homophobia," Barnes said. "Some still think being gay is illegal in parts of the country."

She believes one problem is that teachers dread taking lessons on homosexuality. "Many are scared of celebrating LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] as they are worried pupils will judge them and will assume they are gay. In fact, to them, we are just a blob giving them information. Over the five years, I've only had three pupils ask whether I am gay."

A week ago, a group of 10 and 11 year olds trooped into Barnes's classroom and she played them a clip from the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which is about three drag queens travelling across the Australian outback. The pupils appeared happy to discuss transvestites and transsexuals.

"There is a man at my auntie's work who wears a skirt and has really hairy legs," said one. "Criss-cross is where you like both men and women," offered another.

Florence, aged 12, told the class about the first wedding she went to. "It was a gay wedding and they were called Andrew and Eric, and I wanted to be a bridesmaid, but I had only known them for two years."

Josiah, aged 11, said: "The pope opposes homosexuality, but I don't know why, as I think everyone should have free will."

Occasionally, the lessons do not go to plan. One of Barnes's colleagues, Anna Gluckstein, was teaching about Turing when a boy at the back of the class got up and chanted "batty man, batty man" – a Jamaican term for a gay man.

A poll of 1,145 pupils in 2007 by the charity Stonewall found 65% of lesbian, gay and bisexual students had experienced homophobic bullying. Some 98% said the word "gay" was used as a synonym for "rubbish".

"By looking at famous LGBT people in history, we've changed opinions and we have had a number of pupils come out," Barnes said. "We have also changed the language used in the school. I used to hear the word gay used all the time as a derogatory term. Now we hardly hear it."

Thanks to The Guardian for this article which can be found here.

Welcome!

2010-10-25T22:49:00.003+01:00

This blog is under construction - please hurry back!