Increased Reports in NHS Child Abuse Investigation, Say Authorities

Authorities investigating historical child abuse incidents linked to two former NHS mental health facilities in West Sussex have confirmed they are in contact with 12 alleged victims, expressing belief that additional individuals may come forward.

One former patient, who was only nine years old at the time, recounted harrowing experiences of repeated sexual assault by a staff member at Larchwood and Colwood, located in Haywards Heath.

Using the pseudonym Christopher, he revealed that the first alleged assault occurred in the late 1970s when a staff member coaxed him outside to gather flowers for his mother.

He vividly recalled the traumatic event, stating, “That was the daffodil day – it’s always stuck with me.” Christopher described being raped in the woods during this encounter.

“I was crying, saying please stop, please stop, you’re hurting me – really so painful, nothing I’ve experienced like that. Just fear.”

Sussex Police indicated that their inquiry focuses on allegations from former patients at the two facilities during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, both of which ceased operations by the early 2000s.

Larchwood specialized in providing care for younger children, while Colwood was designated for adolescents, both situated on the same grounds as the former St Francis Hospital and the current Princess Royal Hospital.

Christopher recounted how he was placed in Larchwood by his parents following a series of disruptive behaviors at home, including school dropout and suicidal attempts.

In an exclusive discussion, he shared his experiences of alleged repeated sexual assaults by a male staff member at the facility.

“[The staff member] said to me ‘your mum’s coming tonight, do you want to get some daffodils? I know where you can get the biggest best daffodils and you can surprise your mum with them.'”

He agreed to the outing, and they ventured into the woods to collect the flowers. However, Christopher described a horrifying turn of events where he was assaulted.

He shared, “At the bottom of the mound, there was a raised mound, he laid me down there,” leading to memories of the alleged crime.

Christopher stated that he was subjected to further assaults by the same individual, asserting, “He just knew the system. He was confident he wasn’t going to get asked, knew he wasn’t going to get caught.”

The investigation has also revealed other individuals claiming to have been victims at Larchwood or Colwood between the 1970s and 1990s. One such individual, identified as Linda, a nurse at Colwood in the late 1990s, characterized the environment as one marked by inadequate care and neglect.

“There was a really poorly girl who was really psychotic who was just standing outside in a really bad way waiting for me to get there to help her,” she recounted. “We kept saying this isn’t ok, but nothing ever changed.”

Linda also recounted an incident where a staff member allegedly assaulted a fragile young patient, demonstrating a troubling culture of abuse within the units.

As the investigation unfolds, Sussex Police have identified several potential suspects, none of whom are believed to hold positions of trust or pose any ongoing threat to the public. Two men in their 60s and 70s have been interviewed, though no arrests have been made as of yet.

Detective Inspector Cheryl Lewendon mentioned that while they have spoken to 12 victims, they anticipate that many more may still be unidentified.

“There are a lot of people we’re still trying to identify,” she stated. “The passage of time shouldn’t prevent us from getting justice for those victims.”

The police also addressed criticisms regarding the handling of earlier allegations made in the 1990s and 2000s, acknowledging procedural shortcomings.

“We didn’t do the right thing back then, allegations were made and investigated in silo. We’ve come a long way since then – we recognize the importance of looking at things in a much wider context,” Det Insp Lewendon stated.

Both Larchwood and Colwood were operated by NHS entities that predate the current NHS Trust. A spokesperson for the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust affirmed their support for the ongoing police investigation into claims of sexual abuse and neglect.

They expressed empathy towards those coming forward with their stories, stating, “We acknowledge how difficult it must be for people to come forward to share their experiences of abuse and our thoughts are with them.”

As the investigation continues, they encouraged anyone with relevant experiences to contact Sussex Police.

In June, the police initiated a public appeal for information, as Christopher and other alleged victims call for a formal apology from the NHS.