Calls for all women's safe spaces to be male-free after Shropshire abuse case
It comes after a woman received damages following a series of attacks in a refuge.
There are calls for all women's refuges to ban access by men following the abuse of a woman in Shropshire at the hands of a male worker.
After fleeing a violent ex-partner, the 21-year-old sought help from the Shropshire Domestic Violence service.
She was subject to repeated serious sexual assaults by Stephen Russell, who arranged accommodation and claimed to carry out maintenance for the refuge, which at the time was owned and managed by the Shropshire Housing Group.
Russell had full access to all parts of the refuge, including the woman's bedroom and her personal file.
He was jailed in 2019 at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
A claim was brought on his victim's behalf against Connexus Homes Limited in association with Shropshire Domestic Violence. This claim has just been settled.
Richard Scorer, Head of Abuse at law firm Slater and Gordon, said: "It's a truly shocking case. My client fled to this women's refuge because she was trying to flee a violent partner and she expected that she would be safe there.
"What actually happened was that she was sexually assaulted and raped, repeatedly. So it's a truly shocking case and one which we can, and should, learn lessons from.
"Certainly when women's refuges were first set up many years ago, that was always the intention, that they were women's only safe spaces. I think that's been eroded over the years.
"I'm not suggesting that any man seeking to work in a position like that would necessarily be dangerous, but people who are predatory and are sex offenders will look for opportunities to get into these spaces and that's what we need to guard against."
A spokesperson for Connexus who now manage the refuge said: “We are committed to protecting the women and girls who use our domestic abuse services across Shropshire.
“We do not tolerate abuse or predatory behaviour of any kind in our workplaces or refuges, and our thoughts continue to be with the victim and their family.
“The offence took place before the refuge joined the Connexus group of companies. At the time Shropshire Housing Group, who owned and managed the refuge, did undertake an investigation and the staff member responsible was dismissed. The incident was also reported to the Police.
“Since being managed by Connexus, the service has undergone significant changes to the way it is managed and how it operates, and robust safeguarding measures are in place. We do not employ men in our domestic abuse services for women.”