Ex-care home school pupils sue council

The lawsuit has been brought by 20 former pupils and residents of The Small School at Red House in Buxton near Coltishall

Damages claims have been started by former pupils of a children's home/school claiming sexual or physical abuse while they were there in the 1980s and 90s, the BBC understands.

The Shirley Oaks Survivors Association (Sosa) said it had worked with 43 former students and residents of The Small School At Red House in Buxton, Norfolk.

It claims Norfolk County Council was responsible for annual inspections at the school - which operated from 1989 until its closure in 1998.

The council said it did not place any of the claimants in the case at Red House, but it could not comment further due to ongoing legal action.

Youngsters were placed at the Red House by local authority social services departments from across the country, and they were given schooling on site.

Raymond Stevenson, from Sosa, said the council was "aware of the abuse due to various inspections their social services department carried out" at the school, near Wroxham.

Raymond Stevenson claims Norfolk County Council ignored "obvious signs of a cult operating"

Sosa said it had been working with former residents for two years to build the claims.

Mr Stevenson has previously led an investigation into abuse at the Shirley Oaks children's home in Croydon in south London, where he was a resident.

In the Norfolk case, he said the claimants said in testimony the Danish-owned operator Tvind ran Red House "through a regime of physical, sexual and psychological abuse and humiliation".

Mr Stevenson also claimed the county council continued to license The Small School in 1995, despite 23 claims of physical or sexual abuse by teachers and volunteer teachers being reported between 1989 and 1993.

He added: "The most concerning thing about Tvind and The Red House is the lack of response from Norfolk County Council... and the licensing authority.

"[The council] ignored the obvious signs of abuse taking place in a residential school for vulnerable care children," he claimed.

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

A spokesperson for Tvind said: "We are unable to provide comment as we have no status in relation to the former Tvind School Co-operation, and we are not aware of any legal action."

Daniel Lemberger, from law firm Imran Khan & Partners, said: "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.

"My clients are concerned that they [local authorities] may have ignored evidence of the appalling abuse taking place [and they] have serious concern about the role of Norfolk [County] Council, who inspected Red House many times."

Norfolk County Council says while it sympathises with all abuse victims, it cannot comment while the claim is ongoing

Norfolk Police said its Operation Walmsgate team conducted two investigations into alleged abuse at the former Small School At Red House School between 1984 and 1998.

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

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

Confirming it had received 14 letters of claim, the county council said: "The allegations made by former pupils of the independent Small School At Red House are deeply concerning and we have co-operated 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."

A "letter before action" has been sent to the council, which happens before any legal moves are filed with a court.