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JUSTICE: Alex Wheatle calls for thorough investigation into Lambeth care home scandal

VICTIMS OF an alleged paedophile ring that preyed on children in care homes need better support, according to an award-winning author.

Alex Wheatle MBE, the acclaimed author of Brixton Rock, called for a focus on victims after he revealed he had been sexually abused at Shirley Oaks children’s home run by Lambeth Council.

Wheatle lived there between 1966 and 1978 after being referred to a doctor for being “maladjusted”.

He told The Mirror: “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.”

Wheatle also described seeing “strange nameless men” in the care home and hearing rumours of a staff member raping a girl.

He remembers living in “constant fear.”

He told The Voice that the children were caught in a scandal that went “all the way to the top” and Lambeth Council, he said, “turned a blind eye. Hardly anyone was listening to us we were swept under the carpet ignored.”

CONCERNED

Wheatle is concerned that the abuse of children was a widespread problem in Lambeth at the time when he was in care. He has called for “thorough” investigation.

The revelation comes amidst allegation of a 1980s Westminster paedophile ring, which involved senior politicians and prominent figures. Concerns have also been raised about a possible cover-up as 114 files detailing allegations of child sex abuse in Westminster went missing.

Home Secretary Theresa May has ordered a probe into the missing files and a wider inquiry into the handling of historic sex abuse allegations.

ALLEGATIONS: Author accused Lambeth Council of ignoring child abuse

But she has been criticised for appointing "amateurs" to the investigation and there have been demands for a full, judge-led public inquiry.

Wheatle said he hopes May will "divert resources to the investigation".

He added: "Those of us who have suffered need this to be taken seriously."

He has also called for more to be done to encourage victims to come forward and to provide targeted support.

Dr Jon Bird, Operations manager of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), which has a helpline for victims, says the charity has seen a significant rise in calls in the last two years since the revelations about Jimmy Savile’s abuse of children.

He stressed the importance of the availability of good quality support and therapy for survivors “available through he NHS on demand.”

SUPPORT

Last week in Parliament May promised that victims will get the support they need and insisted that her inquiry will “leave no stone unturned in getting to the truth of what happened and ensuring that we learn the necessary lessons to protect children and vulnerable people in the future.”

A Lambeth council spokesperson said: “Lambeth council will cooperate fully with the reviews into historic child sex abuse cases announced by the Home Secretary last week. We are also supporting ongoing police enquiries and would urge anyone with new information to the police.”

Wheatle said he hopes breaking his silence will encourage others to come forward.

He added: “I don’t want to be the poster boy of this, but I hope to set the ball rolling because I know there are others out there who have suffered greatly."