Angela Bayley and 'Disruptive' were the lead story of one of the UK's biggest regional papers.
The following article was the lead story in the Mansfield Chad of 19 May 2010:
Abuse victim sues council
Woman writes book alleging how she was:
- Raped by care worker
- Raped by foster dad
- Attacked by teacher
Report by Chris Breese
A MANSFIELD woman has issued a landmark claim for compensation for a catalogue of horrific sexual abuse she says she suffered as a child in the care of Nottinghamshire County Council.
How the story of 'Disruptive' was covered by the Mansfield Chad
The woman, now in her 30s, is asking the authority for recompense after obtaining hundreds of documents relating to the handling of her case in the 1980s.
She alleges she was sexually abused by a teacher, groomed and raped by a care home worker, and repeatedly raped again by a foster father she was placed with, all between 1983 and 1988.
Her action was launched after she decided to write a book chronicling her alleged experiences, using the pen name Angela Bayley, which has made it onto the shelves of major bookshops.
Angela, who grew up in Mansfield and still lives locally, started writing ‘Disruptive’ as part of psychological therapy, but only recently named Nottinghamshire County Council as the authority involved.
She said: “Everything was pushed under the carpet – not just the sexual abuse. I often wonder whether the more vulnerable you are the more you have got that tattooed on your forehead – that you are an easy target.
“Now that we have solid evidence of the appalling negligence and culpability of the council I believe I am likely to win major damages and that it is safe to reveal the name of the local authority which failed to protect me.”
Abuse victim to sue the council
Angela’s allegations include that a teacher she was a pupil of groomed and raped her, that a children’s care home worker later raped her on ‘numerous’ occasions and that a foster father groomed and then raped her around 15 times.
She alleges this has left her with deep psychological scars, including post traumatic stress disorder, anorexia, bulimia, and emotionally unstable personality disorder.
Case documents seen by Chad show at least one social worker who interviewed her about the claims at the time believed her allegations were true.
Her claim comes after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to take her allegations further in 2006, saying that pursuing criminal proceedings would not be in the public interest.
Nottinghamshire County Council has declined to comment while the case is live.
Her solicitor Andrew Grove specialises in claiming compensation for the victims of childhood sexual abuse. He explained child abuse victims were previously barred from taking
This story ran on the first and third pages of the Mansfield Chad!
action later than six years after they turned I8, but recent rulings may have opened the door for people like Angela.
In 2008 the Law Lords ruled Iorworth Hoare, dabbed the ‘Lotto Rapist’ after winning £7m on the Notional Lottery, could be sued by a woman he attempted to rape, even though her claim was outside the deadline.
Mr Grove said: “Angela has a good claim for compensation. Her abusers were employed by Nottinghamshire County Council and it is the council who must take responsibility for the wrongdoing and for Angela’s suffering.
“It is a matter of law that employers are responsible for the actions of their employees and there is strong evidence of negligence by the local authority in her social care records which were released to us recently.”
He also said by negotiating with the council the claim could be settled out of court, but added he and his client would ‘stand ready’ to launch court proceedings if they felt it necessary.
Added Angela: “If the claim is successful, the scars will still be there, but it will be like I’ve had plastic surgery.
“I came up with tho courage to do it having met many others who have been in my position and realising that I’m sadly not alone.
“People are frightened of the consequences of coming forward but it should be the people who have done things like this that should be frightened.”
A Nottinghamshire County Council spokesman said: “We are aware of a letter from the solicitor of the person concerned. At the moment it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
