After children’s accusations and sexualised behaviour went unchecked, child sexual abuse poisoned generations of a family, research has revealed.
Couple A in Gloucestershire started the abuse; she purposely wanted to adopt an “emotionally disturbed” child so she could target them.
Eventually imprisoned in 2018, the couple adopted four siblings and started an annual cycle of sexual abuse.
The investigation declared agencies “fell short”.
In the 1990s, Couple A, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, adopted the four young siblings who their original parents had mistreated.
Police describe couple A as “wealthy” and “people you wouldn’t suspect”; the woman is “a pillar of the community and a church-goer with a very successful job”.
Written outside of Gloucestershire by a social worker in the location they had been residing in, an adoption form reveals they sought a child who was “emotionally disturbed”.
Leading the police inquiry, Gloucestershire Constabulary Det Sgt Grace Craddock remarked they “sought out children that were traumatised”.
“I believe it was so they could have access to children who wouldn’t be believed if they were to speak out,” she stated.
Couple A spent 23 years overall behind bars for mistreating two of their adopted children.
However, later on, one of the other siblings—along with her husband—abused two of their children. Couple B spent 17 years imprisoned overall in 2023.
Det Sgt Grace Craddock said the Couple A mother “pulled the wool over the eyes of every professional involved.”
According to Det Sgt Craddock, the mother of Couple A, who she described as “one of the most manipulative people I have ever met”, dominated the family overall.
The mother attended meetings with social services and schools to ensure nothing was said that could link her.
“It’s clear from the material we have looked at over the last seven years that she pulled the wool over the eyes of every professional involved,” Det Sgt Craddock remarked.
“There were certain points, over the years, social care would get involved; they would look over allegations; but, she was always considered the safe factor and that allowed her access to the children.”
Police stated the family’s victims were “living with trauma every day” and seeking therapy.
Det Sgt Craddock stated, “It’s taken years for them to feel ready to talk about what’s happened.”
“Travelling through a court process for any child is rather challenging.
“They have closure, fortunately; yet, terrible crimes have happened to them, and they have to deal with that into adulthood. The support is continuous; we do not simply close that door after finishing the research.
Following one of the children’s claims of abuse, Gloucestershire Constabulary refrained from prosecuting Couple A in 2010.
Though proof the father had been downloading obscene photographs of minors, for which he was subsequently cautioned, the CPS was not contacted, and no legal counsel was given.
Teachers observed a trend of disturbing behaviour when Couple B’s children started attending primary school.
Staff member “Pete,” told the BBC the school started to observe “more and more evidence of quite significant sexualised behaviour” as each sister entered.
Pete and his colleagues believed the local authorities pushed against them despite referrals to children’s services; staff members expressed concerns about probation, social services and a children’s centre.
“Pete” informed Steve Knibbs, a BBC reporter, that he was happy the youngsters finally had justice.
Pete remarked, “It was very much ‘this will not get past legal’, and I found that frustrating because I said, ‘I’m not here to try and get a legal outcome; I’m here to try and get these children protected’.”
“And it would be ‘oh, they haven’t said anything,’ and I would say ‘they don’t have to have spoken’- their behaviour was screaming at us, and that wasn’t being considered.
“That was quite disturbing since these children would have been coached, threatened, you know, and scripted ‘if you’re asked this, this is what you say’.”
“Apologise unreservedly.”
Issued on Friday, delving into the background of the flaws that resulted in the establishment of Operation Acorne, an inquiry involving several local agencies in July 2017, a report by Gloucestershire Safeguarding Partnership was issued.
Eleven children linked to four families were placed under local government and police protection. Two other families were found guilty of neglect, but Couples A and B’s victims at last saw their abusers arrested and brought to justice.
The shortcomings in the system stood against the backdrop of Gloucestershire’s 2017 disclosed degradation of children’s services.
The same month Operation Acorne was scheduled, June of that year, Ofsted revealed it had discovered “serious and widespread failures” in Gloucestershire’s children’s services.
Dangers were not acknowledged, so “too many children were being left in situations at risk of significant harm for too long”.
Ann James, the director of children’s services for the county council, “unreservedly” apologised for the “not joined in or adequate” early reaction of the authority.
“While these events are fortunately rather rare, our focus during the years since this abuse was discovered has been to, along with our partners, act in response to mistakes that were made and to strengthen how we work together to safeguard children in the county effectively,” she added.
“Although these events happened up to 15 years ago, the findings and the recommendations remind us that we must all remain vigilant and relentless in protecting children.”
The council apologised earlier this week for the mistakes that resulted in child abuse by her provider.
Police expressed regret for the results of not acting earlier (stock image).
The research underlined that as the concerned youngsters were under the age of criminal responsibility, police in 2016 refrained from investigating the claims of sexualised behaviour.
It stated: “This deflected the professional child protection network from a more fundamental question: ‘Where had the children involved learnt this behaviour?'”
Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson of Gloucestershire police said, “sorry for the consequences of not taking action at an earlier stage”. Couple A missed a chance to be prosecuted.
“This was not the right decision, and I apologise to those involved. Regarding the police failing to identify in the report, specifically that we did not refer the allegations made by a victim in 2009 to the Crown Prosecution Service,” he said.
“Based on a belief the evidence standard had not been met, this is not what we do anymore, even though the investigating officer made this conclusion in good faith.
“When the case was referred once more in 2017, it was handled with the highest professionalism under a multi-agency inquiry spanning more than six years, producing considerable safeguarding and notable convictions totalling over forty years.
“The report’s findings have been embedded within our organisations, and we continue to work closely, every day, to safeguard children and bring offenders to justice.”
Det Sgt Craddock said: “We’re unable to name the parents involved for legal reasons and to protect the victims, but this offending is very distinct and if anyone’s got concerns that it’s familiar or they think that they might have been involved in anything of this nature then have the confidence to come forward and speak to police.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.