Spear
JF-Expert Member
- Jun 21, 2008
- 507
- 28
Apology for women raped by father
Two women raped and abused by their father over 25 years have been given an apology by the authorities which failed to protect them
Two women who were repeatedly abused and raped by their father for three decades - bearing seven of his children - have received an unreserved apology from authorities who failed to protect them.
The women were repeatedly beaten and raped by their father, enduring 18 pregnancies between them during the horrific ordeal. In November 2008 he was jailed for life.
On the publication of the Executive Summary of a Serious Case Review, authorities apologised for a "collective failure" that left the women in his hands for several decades.
The review said the family had contact with 28 different agencies and 100 members of staff over 35 years. The review, which covers a 35-year period, showed the family moved repeatedly - 67 times - in the Sheffield and Lincolnshire areas so the father could avoid detection.
Concerns were raised the women were bearing his children, but professionals failed to help them, the report revealed.
Sheffield and Lincolnshire safeguarding children boards apologised for their failings and insisted changes had been made to protect families from abuse.
Chris Cook, independent chair of Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board, said: "We are genuinely sorry. We should have protected you. People's lives were devastated both by a controlling, power-obsessed and deviant father and our failure to act."
Sue Fiennes, independent chair of Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board, said they had failed the family and "nothing should shield us from that fact". She said lessons were being learned by the agencies to make sure nothing similar ever happened again.
In November, Sheffield Crown Court heard the man's campaign of abuse started when the women were aged between eight and 10. If they refused his advances, they would be punched, kicked and sometimes held to the flames of a gas fire.
The Executive Summary of the review made 128 recommendations, including eight national recommendations. Author Professor Pat Cantrill said: "We have got to learn from these serious case reviews. There are a number of these serious case reviews that happen and we always don't seem to learn from them."
Two women raped and abused by their father over 25 years have been given an apology by the authorities which failed to protect them
Two women who were repeatedly abused and raped by their father for three decades - bearing seven of his children - have received an unreserved apology from authorities who failed to protect them.
The women were repeatedly beaten and raped by their father, enduring 18 pregnancies between them during the horrific ordeal. In November 2008 he was jailed for life.
On the publication of the Executive Summary of a Serious Case Review, authorities apologised for a "collective failure" that left the women in his hands for several decades.
The review said the family had contact with 28 different agencies and 100 members of staff over 35 years. The review, which covers a 35-year period, showed the family moved repeatedly - 67 times - in the Sheffield and Lincolnshire areas so the father could avoid detection.
Concerns were raised the women were bearing his children, but professionals failed to help them, the report revealed.
Sheffield and Lincolnshire safeguarding children boards apologised for their failings and insisted changes had been made to protect families from abuse.
Chris Cook, independent chair of Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board, said: "We are genuinely sorry. We should have protected you. People's lives were devastated both by a controlling, power-obsessed and deviant father and our failure to act."
Sue Fiennes, independent chair of Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board, said they had failed the family and "nothing should shield us from that fact". She said lessons were being learned by the agencies to make sure nothing similar ever happened again.
In November, Sheffield Crown Court heard the man's campaign of abuse started when the women were aged between eight and 10. If they refused his advances, they would be punched, kicked and sometimes held to the flames of a gas fire.
The Executive Summary of the review made 128 recommendations, including eight national recommendations. Author Professor Pat Cantrill said: "We have got to learn from these serious case reviews. There are a number of these serious case reviews that happen and we always don't seem to learn from them."
