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An award-winning author today reveals that he was abused at a children’s home thought to be linked to a paedophile ring involving an MP in Tony Blair’s government.
In
a moving account, Alex Wheatle, 51, writes of how he was sexually
assaulted by a doctor at Shirley Oaks in Surrey, run by Lambeth council,
South London.
The father-of-three, awarded an MBE in 2008, broke
his silence after an investigation by the Daily Mirror claimed
systematic abuse in the borough was covered up after the Labour MP was named as a suspect.
It
is thought Alex was targeted by a network of abusers who operated in
the same care homes that the rising Labour star is suspected of visiting
in the early 80s.
We revealed how a Lambeth social services boss told police in 1998 that the Blair minister would make lone evening visits to a children’s home run by a convicted paedophile, Michael John Carroll.
The
witness said Carroll later admitted that the politician was a friend
and that he also took boys out of South Vale children’s home in West
Norwood during the 80s.
This is a unit which is believed to have been infiltrated by paedophiles from outside the care system.
In his powerful account, Alex speaks of the sickening abuse suffered by youngsters at Shirley Oaks children’s home village.
Alex,
who arrived at Shirley Oaks aged three, reveals how “strange nameless
men” had access to the home and believes abusers were allowed access
with the full knowledge of staff and council chiefs.
He
writes: “I’m convinced there was a paedophile ring operating in both
South Vale and Shirley Oaks and that the authorities knew about it at
the time but did nothing.”
Alex, born in South London, goes on to call for justice for the victims who have been ignored for decades.
He also implores Home Secretary Theresa May that child abuse inquiries recently announced are “thorough”.
Geraint Lewis
Award winner: Alex Wheatle MBE
Read Alex's chilling first-hand account of his abuse HERE
Sitting
on the well-heeled Kent- Surrey border, Shirley Oaks children’s home
village – administered by Lambeth council – was surrounded by lush,
swerving hills, rushing streams and towering oaks.
At first glance it was the perfect place to raise children, but in 1995, it was shut down.
Fixed
into the encircling wall which still stands near the front gate and
lodge building is a plaque that reminds passers-by of the thousands of
children who once resided there.
Just two minutes’ walk from this
symbolic memorial, one of my good friends took her own life – she had
left Shirley Oaks but she could never leave behind the tormenting
memories and trauma.
Another close friend of mine hanged himself
from a toilet chain in one of the cottages. I know he suffered, but I
don’t know how.
I arrived in Shirley Oaks in 1966. My first
memories were filling in coal buckets and getting beaten up with wooden
hair brushes, belts and hard-soled shoes. Suffering violence was as part
of my day as eating toast.
As I grew a little older I heard tales
of appalling abuses from friends who had been processed at the South
Vale assessment centre in West Norwood before arriving at Shirley Oaks
for so-called long-term care.
Phrases like “bummed” filled their vocabulary.
Sometimes
we would see strange nameless men within the Shirley Oaks grounds. One
of them manipulated himself into our cottage, sleeping overnight in the
sofa bed within the office. We were told to call him Mark and he said he
was a swimming instructor.
He targeted the boys in our cottage
but also facilitated swimming lessons for other lads in the pool within
the grounds as well as private clients. At these sessions he was the
only adult present. There were no CRB checks in those days.
It was
only decades later that he was jailed for his disgusting crimes
following the Operation Middleton investigation. I’m still unsure if all
of his victims came forward.
While all this happened, I did my
best to survive. Before I left the primary school that was situated
within the complex, I was labelled “maladjusted”. I didn’t even know
what the word meant.
I was referred to a doctor. The first thing
he told me to do was to strip naked. I stood there traumatised, unable
to utter a sound as he sexually assaulted me. I wanted to ask my friends
if they had suffered something similar but couldn’t bring myself to do
it.
As I began my secondary education there were still odd,
nameless men walking the grounds at night. Sometimes you would see them
during the day. One drove through the village in an orange mini with
blacked-out windows. He claimed he was a football coach but the only
skill he possessed was managing to fit inside his tight shorts.
PA
Honour: Alex Wheatle is made an MBE by The Queen
He would arrive at a game and take younger boys away to a
secluded part of Shirley Oaks where it was assumed he was giving them
extra training. Nobody that I knew wanted to discuss these issues with
any social worker for fear of being moved away to somewhere even worse.
Indeed,
one of my house-mates was taken away for objecting to what was taking
place within our household. She came back months later traumatised. She
wouldn’t talk of it. Also, we all heard that a member of Shirley Oaks
staff had raped a defenceless girl. Fear was a constant companion. At
least in Shirley Oaks we had our friends – if that was taken away, we
would have nothing.
If you were fortunate enough to have a family
member come and see you, social workers or officers in charge would
sometimes apply for a Section 2, which would deny even close relatives
from visiting you. It meant the children’s home gained complete control
over your life and who you saw. Many of my friends were completely
isolated and vulnerable.
Years later, Operation Middleton secured
three convicted jail terms. Lambeth council and the police declared the
investigation a success. I and many others deem it as a failure.
Nineteen paedophiles were never charged or even identified. If any of
them are alive they are still walking, smiling and wearing their medals
amongst us.
Who were they? How did they gain such willful access
to South Vale and Shirley Oaks? At any time during Shirley Oaks’
existence there were hundreds of children in residence and social
workers visited their charges every day.
They must have been aware
of at least the “swimming instructor” and the “football coach” because
they were so visible. They and others somehow gained unchallenged access
inside cottages and ultimately to defenceless children. Acclaimed: Brixton Rock by Alex Wheatle
In my case, this Mark character even sat in on my case
meetings. I’m convinced there was a paedophile ring operating in both
South Vale and Shirley Oaks and that the authorities knew about it at
the time but did nothing.
I urge Theresa May that the inquiries
she has initiated include the thorough investigation of social services
practices, safeguards for children and protection policies and how such
men were allowed to get so close to vulnerable children.
Also, I
ask her that these investigations should examine all aspects of child
abuse including violent, neglect and emotional abuse. Victims have their
lives ruined by sexual assault. Some even take their own lives because
of it.
Following the closure of Shirley Oaks, someone set fire to
the old primary school. I wonder if it was a victim, exacting some form
of his or her justice, who for years went ignored and unheard. I really
hope my testimony here will prompt others who have suffered to come
forward and bear witness to the horrific crimes inflicted against them.
Those nameless men must be unveiled and brought to justice, alive or dead.
If
you are an adult who suffered child abuse and want professional help,
call NAPAC on 0808 801 0331. If you have any information that you think
might help our investigation, please telephone the Mirror on 0800 282
591 or you can email mirrornews@mirror.co.uk.
Alex Wheatle MBE is acclaimed author of novels including Brixton Rock, Brenton Brown, Island Songs & East Of Acre
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