This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-65203493
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Force's largest child sex abuse case safeguarding report concealed | Force's largest child sex abuse case safeguarding report concealed |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| David Baker, James Evans, Mark Smith, Natalie Wellington and Tracey Baker (clockwise, from top left) were given the longest prison sentences | David Baker, James Evans, Mark Smith, Natalie Wellington and Tracey Baker (clockwise, from top left) were given the longest prison sentences |
| A safeguarding review into how 21 people were able to abuse seven children will not be made public. | A safeguarding review into how 21 people were able to abuse seven children will not be made public. |
| The 21 people were convicted for offences against victims, aged 12 years old or younger, spanning nearly a decade in Walsall and Wolverhampton. | The 21 people were convicted for offences against victims, aged 12 years old or younger, spanning nearly a decade in Walsall and Wolverhampton. |
| The Walsall Safeguarding Partnership (WSP) said the report will not be published to protect the identities of victims. | The Walsall Safeguarding Partnership (WSP) said the report will not be published to protect the identities of victims. |
| Concerns came to light in 2014 after a hospital visit by one of the victims. | Concerns came to light in 2014 after a hospital visit by one of the victims. |
| Three years later, another child told a carer about the extent of the abuse, prompting a six-year police investigation - which West Midlands Police said was the largest child sex abuse case in the force's history. | Three years later, another child told a carer about the extent of the abuse, prompting a six-year police investigation - which West Midlands Police said was the largest child sex abuse case in the force's history. |
| Thirteen of the defendants have been jailed with four to be sentenced at a later date and a further four have been given non-custodial sentences. | Thirteen of the defendants have been jailed with four to be sentenced at a later date and a further four have been given non-custodial sentences. |
| The case can only now be reported because a series of trials which began last year has ended. | The case can only now be reported because a series of trials which began last year has ended. |
| Prison sentences were also given to Lee Webb, David Evans, Jason Evans and Luke Baker (clockwise, from top left) | Prison sentences were also given to Lee Webb, David Evans, Jason Evans and Luke Baker (clockwise, from top left) |
| WSP is responsible for safeguarding vulnerable children and adults in the area. Its review into the case was carried out four years ago, it told the BBC. | WSP is responsible for safeguarding vulnerable children and adults in the area. Its review into the case was carried out four years ago, it told the BBC. |
| The findings from the inquiry led directly to the WSP child sexual abuse strategy and shaped the training offered to frontline staff when encountering cases of this nature. | The findings from the inquiry led directly to the WSP child sexual abuse strategy and shaped the training offered to frontline staff when encountering cases of this nature. |
| The strategy was being reviewed this year and any lessons from the court cases could form part of the view, the organisation stated. | |
| It commended the "courage" of the children and young people in coming forward, and said many of those affected by the case continued to be supported by local agencies. | |
| "They have provided stability, care and safe homes which has helped the children build trust and be able to confide in professionals," WSP's independent chair Sally Hodges said. | "They have provided stability, care and safe homes which has helped the children build trust and be able to confide in professionals," WSP's independent chair Sally Hodges said. |
| "Whilst we appreciate this matter maybe of public interest the partnership's overriding concern is for the children and young people that were involved in these horrific events." | |
| Kirsty Webb, Phillip Wellington, Ann Clare, Pamela Howells (clockwise, from top left) were among those jailed | Kirsty Webb, Phillip Wellington, Ann Clare, Pamela Howells (clockwise, from top left) were among those jailed |
| She said an essential part of the partnership's work is to "learn lessons from its safeguarding activity". | She said an essential part of the partnership's work is to "learn lessons from its safeguarding activity". |
| Ms Hodges added: "There is no room for complacency but we have confidence in the professional practice to identify and respond to concerns or risk relating to sexual abuse. | Ms Hodges added: "There is no room for complacency but we have confidence in the professional practice to identify and respond to concerns or risk relating to sexual abuse. |
| "The safeguarding partnership will continue to support all agencies to review and strengthen multi-agency arrangements in order to protect children and young people across the borough." | "The safeguarding partnership will continue to support all agencies to review and strengthen multi-agency arrangements in order to protect children and young people across the borough." |
| A recent inspection in the area found children who needed help and protection in the borough received a coordinated and effective response, she added. | |
| The police officers involved in the criminal investigation have been offered support due to its "horrendous nature". | The police officers involved in the criminal investigation have been offered support due to its "horrendous nature". |
| Det Ch Insp Joanne Floyd said it was the most complex child sex abuse case she had seen in 32 years | Det Ch Insp Joanne Floyd said it was the most complex child sex abuse case she had seen in 32 years |
| "I have 32 years in police service, and quite a significant proportion of that working in child protection and certainly I have had large cases, but nothing of the scale and complexity of this case," said Det Ch Insp Joanne Floyd. | "I have 32 years in police service, and quite a significant proportion of that working in child protection and certainly I have had large cases, but nothing of the scale and complexity of this case," said Det Ch Insp Joanne Floyd. |
| "The complexity and the horrendous nature of it spans so many different levels, not only in terms of the vulnerability of the children and how young they were." | "The complexity and the horrendous nature of it spans so many different levels, not only in terms of the vulnerability of the children and how young they were." |
| Reflecting on the experience of officers involved in the investigation, she added: "No-one walks away from this unscathed. | Reflecting on the experience of officers involved in the investigation, she added: "No-one walks away from this unscathed. |
| "All of us have been affected, and there's no doubt about it, it's been a very traumatic case." | "All of us have been affected, and there's no doubt about it, it's been a very traumatic case." |
| Twenty-two people were prosecuted during the three trials. They faced numerous charges including child sex abuse and child cruelty offences: | Twenty-two people were prosecuted during the three trials. They faced numerous charges including child sex abuse and child cruelty offences: |
| James Evans, 38, Eyland Grove, Walsall, jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years and given a sexual harm prevention order for life | James Evans, 38, Eyland Grove, Walsall, jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years and given a sexual harm prevention order for life |
| David Baker, 41, Park Avenue, Walsall, jailed for 20 years with a further year on licence, given a restraining order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | David Baker, 41, Park Avenue, Walsall, jailed for 20 years with a further year on licence, given a restraining order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order |
| Mark Smith, 34, Bloxwich Road, Walsall, jailed for 19 years with a further six years on licence and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years | Mark Smith, 34, Bloxwich Road, Walsall, jailed for 19 years with a further six years on licence and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years |
| Natalie Wellington, 44, Walsingham Street, Walsall, jailed for 16 years with a further year on licence, given an indefinite restraining order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | Natalie Wellington, 44, Walsingham Street, Walsall, jailed for 16 years with a further year on licence, given an indefinite restraining order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order |
| Tracey Baker, 41, Park Avenue, Walsall, jailed for 15 years with a further year on licence and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | Tracey Baker, 41, Park Avenue, Walsall, jailed for 15 years with a further year on licence and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order |
| Kirsty Webb, 36, Bloxwich Road, Walsall, jailed for 10 years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years | Kirsty Webb, 36, Bloxwich Road, Walsall, jailed for 10 years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years |
| Phillip Wellington, 50, Walsingham Street, Walsall, jailed for eight years with a further year on licence, given an indefinite restraining order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | Phillip Wellington, 50, Walsingham Street, Walsall, jailed for eight years with a further year on licence, given an indefinite restraining order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order |
| Ann Clare, 43, Saw Mill Close, Walsall, jailed for eight years with a further three on licence and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years | Ann Clare, 43, Saw Mill Close, Walsall, jailed for eight years with a further three on licence and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years |
| Pamela Howells, 58, Saw Mill Close, Walsall, jailed for seven years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years | Pamela Howells, 58, Saw Mill Close, Walsall, jailed for seven years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years |
| Lee Webb, 40, Whitmore Street, Palfrey, Walsall, jailed for six years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years | Lee Webb, 40, Whitmore Street, Palfrey, Walsall, jailed for six years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 30 years |
| David Evans, 72, Adshed Road, Redcar, Cleveland, jailed for three-and-a-half years and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | David Evans, 72, Adshed Road, Redcar, Cleveland, jailed for three-and-a-half years and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order |
| Jason Evans, 25, Walsingham Street, Walsall, jailed for two years and six months and given a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years | Jason Evans, 25, Walsingham Street, Walsall, jailed for two years and six months and given a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years |
| Luke Baker, 22, Park Avenue, Walsall, jailed for two years and four months, given an indefinite restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years | Luke Baker, 22, Park Avenue, Walsall, jailed for two years and four months, given an indefinite restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years |
| Stephen Webb, 65, given an absolute discharge due to health conditions and told he must notify as a sex offender for five years | Stephen Webb, 65, given an absolute discharge due to health conditions and told he must notify as a sex offender for five years |
| Dean Webb, 35, received a two year supervision order, must notify as a sex offender for five years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 40 years | Dean Webb, 35, received a two year supervision order, must notify as a sex offender for five years and given a sexual harm prevention order for 40 years |
| Jane Evans, 71, given a two year supervision order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order | Jane Evans, 71, given a two year supervision order and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order |
| Ryan Evans, 23, given a community order for three years with supervision and sex offender work, a tagged curfew for 28 days and a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years | Ryan Evans, 23, given a community order for three years with supervision and sex offender work, a tagged curfew for 28 days and a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years |
| Natasha Webb, 37, to be sentenced at a future date | Natasha Webb, 37, to be sentenced at a future date |
| Matthew Evans, 32, Howard Road, Bilston, to be sentenced at a future date | Matthew Evans, 32, Howard Road, Bilston, to be sentenced at a future date |
| John Griffiths, 66, Abbotts Street, Bloxwich, to be sentenced at a future date | John Griffiths, 66, Abbotts Street, Bloxwich, to be sentenced at a future date |
| Violet Griffiths, 66, Abbotts Street, Bloxwich, to be sentenced at a future date | Violet Griffiths, 66, Abbotts Street, Bloxwich, to be sentenced at a future date |
| Tina Jones, 62, of Springfields, Rushall, was found not guilty by the court. | Tina Jones, 62, of Springfields, Rushall, was found not guilty by the court. |
| If you are affected by issues raised in this article help and support is available via BBC Action Line | If you are affected by issues raised in this article help and support is available via BBC Action Line |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Walsall | Walsall |
| Wolverhampton | Wolverhampton |