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~ press release ~
Abuse Claims Settled
Damages exceeding £1.4million in total have been paid to ex-pupils of Forde Park School in Newton Abbot.
The claims arose after a long and thorough Police investigation revealed serious physical and sexual assaults carried out by members of staff working at the school over a lengthy period. Criminal proceedings against former members of staff have resulted in one former staff member being sentenced to 18 years in prison and another former staff member receiving a 9-year sentence.
The compensation claims were taken up by Penny Ayles a Partner in the South Devon firm of WBW Solicitors based at Torquay. Penny Ayles was responsible for co-ordinating a substantial number of claims on behalf of a total of 89 former pupils at the school.
Mrs. Ayles said, "I am very pleased at the final outcome of these claims. A large number of the pupils had already suffered disturbed and disjointed upbringings and there is no doubt that the abuse they suffered at the school had serious significant long-term effects on their personalities and behaviour."
Mrs. Ayles said that one of the Judges dealing with the criminal cases commented upon one of the staff members being at Forde Park, "It was like having an alcoholic working in a brewery".
Mrs. Ayles said "The length of the sentences and the amount of the compensation reflect the very serious view taken by the criminal and civil courts about these offences. Unfortunately many lives have been ruined and the compensation cannot make up for the damage done but at least it is of some help and serves to mark that what has happened to the boys was wrong and that such behaviour is not acceptable in a civilised society."
~ press release ~
South Devon Solicitor Leads Schools Claims
South Devon Solicitor Penny Ayles, Head of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Department in WBW Solicitors, has successfully concluded claims against schools at Headlands, Killay and Clarendon Homes in South Wales. The claims arise after detailed extensive investigations into the conduct of the Homes leading to the revelation of sexual and physical abuse of children.
Penny Ayles acted on behalf of 32 Claimants who succeeded in obtaining compensation ranging from £5,000-£50,000 in relation to the abuse suffered at the school.
Penny said, "The litigation was very traumatic and the harm caused to the children concerned can never be eradicated but as one victim who wishes to remain anonymous said - This enables me to believe that those in charge of the Home do accept that something very wrong happened and that the money is by way of some sort of an apology. The money cannot make up for my ruined and damaged childhood but at least it gives me some help in securing my own family and childrens happiness."
Another victim said, "For so long I thought it was my fault but finally I realised it was not."
The settlements reached followed two years of detailed investigations and the issue of proceedings.
~ press release ~
Abuse Claims Settled
Solicitor Penny Ayles, Partner of WBW Solicitors in Newton Abbot, has settled a group action brought against a local Children's Residential School operating under the company name of Pitt House Schools Ltd.
The claims involved a group of 16 Claimants who suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse whilst resident at Children's Homes in Torquay, Chudleigh and Newton Abbot in the 70s and 80s.
The company running the schools at the time was Pitt House Schools Ltd was also known as Pitt House School Stoke Lake Ltd and was a Limited Company running the schools. The company was wound up in 1988 but Penny Ayles was successful in taking legal action to reinstate the company on the Companies Register in order to pursue claims.
A number of the teachers and staff at the schools have been the subject of serious criminal proceedings and Derek Hooper who worked at Pitt House School and Fore Park School is currently serving a sentence of imprisonment in relation to offences of abuse.
Penny Ayles said, "Dealing with claims of this kind is difficult and stressful because by definition the individuals involved had already suffered a deprived and disturbed childhood. They found it difficult to know right from wrong and one of the claimants commented 'I realise now that I was not to blame and that what happened to me was wrong but at the time I was very confused'".
In all Penny Ayles acted for 16 claimants who were awarded sums of compensation ranging from £5,000 to £70,000 depending on the extent and seriousness of the abuse involved.
Penny concluded that she was pleased that the Defendants had agreed to make out of Court settlement offers to avoid the need for the individuals to have to go through further Court proceedings. Many of them had given evidence in the criminal trials against those responsible for the abuse.
Penny Ayles is the Head of the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury Department at WBW Solicitors South Devon.