Victims of alleged abuse at Norfolk children's home take legal action against county council

More than 40 victims of alleged abuse at a children's care home and school in Norfolk are taking legal action against Norfolk County Council and the local authorities elsewhere in the country that sent them there during the 1980s and 1990s.

43 people say they were physically and sexually abused at The Red House, which was run by a group from Denmark, and based in a remote part of the Norfolk countryside.

Some also claim they were forced into slave labour.

It shut down in 1998, but children who were sent there, like Hayley, say they're still affected by what they went through, like being violently restrained: "Someone sat on my back, someone sat on my arm.

"At times I thought I was going to die because I couldn't breathe... it was so scary."

She also describes being sexually abused: "I woke up with a man in my room.

"I couldn't see who he was and he sexually assaulted me.

"When I went and told a teacher, they told me I was lying."

"It was a cult, it wasn't a school"

Kyle - not his real name - shared his experience: "They put a chair in the middle of a marble hall and made you sit there.

"Then they'd humiliate you. They'd allow students to come up to you and hit you in the face.

"Teachers would shake you and slap you.

"It was a cult, it wasn't a school."

A report made by Norfolk County Council in 1994 shows it was aware of reports of 20 victims of child abuse, but the home continued to operate.

Norfolk Police also twice investigated allegations of abuse at the home, but no one was ever charged, with a spokesperson for the force telling us: “Norfolk Police has conducted two investigations under Operation Walmsgate into alleged abuse at the former Red House School in Buxton between 1984 and 1998.

"Despite extensive work in both investigations and following discussions with colleagues in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), it was concluded there was no realistic prospect of achieving a conviction against any suspect.

“In the most recent investigation, detectives assessed any new information and carried out extensive enquiries in relation to non-recent allegations. A file was prepared and shared with the CPS in respect of a number of offences.

"The constabulary concluded the case did not meet the necessary threshold for a realistic prospect of conviction due to evidential difficulties in the case or where statutory time limits in legislation prevented prosecution.

"We have personally contacted all victims and visited those who agreed to meet with us to explain the outcome of this latest investigation.”

"They were in desperate need of stability, love and care"

Daniel Lemberger Cooper, from Imran Khan & Partners, is representing the victims in their case: "The children placed at Red House were already highly vulnerable. They were in desperate need of stability, love and care.

"They instead suffered unimaginable abuse, torture and neglect, the effects of which have been permanent and life long.

"Although local authorities that sent children to Red House had an obligation to take care not to expose children to harm, my clients are concerned that they may have ignored evidence of the appalling abuse taking place. There were the stark warnings of the Department of Health. They were also told about the horrific abuse, at the time, by my clients.

"My clients have serious concern about the role of Norfolk Council, in whose area Red House was based, and who inspected Red House many times over the years.

"My clients are concerned that there was opportunity after opportunity for the authorities to stop the abuse, but that it was - shockingly - allowed to carry on.

"Why that was, and who was responsible, and for acknowledgement and acceptance, is precisely why my clients are bringing this legal action. It is only if this occurs that they might get some semblance of justice and a measure of closure."

Dr Raymond Stevenson is from the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association, which has been supporting those involved: "The most concerning thing... is the lack of response from Norfolk Council where the Red House was based and the licensing authority.

"They were aware of the abuse. They carried out inspections on the home and ignored the obvious signs of a cult operating in their county.

"We implore Norfolk Council to compensate those effected without hiding behind lawyers which will ultimately cost Norfolk taxpayers millions of pounds in court and legal fees."

"Deeply concerning"

A spokesperson for Norfolk County Council said: “The allegations made by former pupils of the independent Small School at Red House are deeply concerning and we have cooperated fully with investigations, which relate to children that were placed there by other local authorities more than 30 years ago.

"Our thoughts are with all survivors of abuse but as there is an ongoing legal claim we cannot comment further at this time.”

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