Calderdale

I found a series of articles in the Halifax Courier that outlined the convictions of Malcolm Phillips and Andrew Shalders for crimes against children in their care at Skircoat Lodge.
Makes for an interesting read, methinks...

21st September 

A FORMER principal of a Calderdale children s home went on trial yesterday charged with 29 sex offences against young girls.Malcolm Osric Phillips (68), denied 24 offences of indecent assault, two offences of indecency with a child, two offences of rape and one of buggery.Bradford Crown Court heard that the offences, which involve 10 different complainants, are alleged to have taken place between 1978 and 1986 at Skircoat Lodge, Skircoat Green, Halifax.Mr Neil Davey QC, prosecuting, said: Our case is that Phillips had an improper sexual interest in young girls and he took advantage of his position as a trusted principal.Mr Davey said a review by Calderdale Council Social Services department was held in October 1997 but while it was under way, grave concerns were expressed about a member of staff at Skircoat Lodge.This led to a subsequent police investigation known as Operation Screen and Phillips s arrest. The girls he allegedly abused were aged between 12 and 18.*Detective Inspector John Barr of Calderdale Police was giving evidence today.

*No they were not. From my recollections, the girls he targeted were all prepubescent. 

17th Nov 2001 

THE former head of a Calderdale children s home has been found guilty of indecently assaulting five teenage girls in his care.Malcolm Osric Phillips (68), who was the principal at Skircoat Lodge, Halifax, has denied committing 29 offences of indecent assault, indecency with a child, rape and buggery against 10 complainants.The jury at Bradford Crown Court convicted Phillips of six offences of indecent assault at 11.30 am yesterday after deliberating for 20 hours and 45 minutes.Phillips was acquitted of a further six offences including one of rape and one of buggery.As the verdicts were announced, Phillips showed no signs of emotion but Emma, his 20-year-old daughter who watched from the public gallery, put her head in her hands as the foreman replied guilty to the first charge on the indictment.Judge Rodney Grant sent the jury back out to consider the remaining 17 verdicts in the nine week case.The jury of 11 returned at 4.30 pm to ask if they could hear evidence again relating to three charges of indecent assault which allegedly took place in 1979.Judge Grant, who adjourned the case until Monday, said that he would answer the question fully when the jury reconvened."It is extremely important that you must not speak to anyone else about this case or let anyone talk to you about this case," he said."You should reach your verdicts when you are all together in your jury room. Your verdicts should be based on the evidence and arguments you have heard in this court."Judge Grant has not yet given a majority direction to the jury.Phillips was released on bail and the conditions were not varied despite the guilty verdicts.*Proceeding

*So he got a last weekend of freedom despite having been found guilty of serious crimes against children. Should be thankful he didn't vanish I suppose...

20th November 

TWO ex-children s homes workers have been jailed for a total of 22 years after repeatedly abusing children in their care over a 10-year period.Malcolm Osric Phillips (68) and Andrew James Shalders (54) who both worked at Skircoat Lodge children s home, Skircoat Green, Halifax, denied a joint total of 64 offences including indecent assault, indecency with a child, buggery and rape.They were sentenced at Bradford Crown Court following two separate trials, one of which was held in August and one which concluded today.Neither Shalders nor Phillips showed any sign of remorse as Judge Rodney Grant passed sentence.Phillips was jailed for seven years after being found guilty of committing sex offences against girls in his care.Phillips denied 29 charges of indecent assault, indecency with a child, rape and buggery against 10 different complainants who lived at the home.The jury heard the offences allegedly took place between 1977 and 1986.*They found him guilty of 16 offences of indecent assault and two offences of committing an act of indecency with a child.He was acquitted of a further four offences of indecent assault, one of rape and one of buggery. Five other charges, including an offence of rape, will lie on the file.When passing sentence today, Judge Grant, said: "It is clear that in your professional life you gave the reputation of being a carer of difficult children, that you were respected by those that worked in the same field as you and we have heard witnesses during this trial referring to you as charismatic and a person whose advice was valued."That appears to have been your public face but you also had another side, a darker side, a side which seems to have been hidden from the general public."You had a position of great responsibility. I have referred already to the esteme in which you were held and that increased the responsibility you owed to the children in your care and the public at large."You breached that trust, you breached the trust placed in you by the general public and the children you were placed in your care were entitled to have."You exploited their vulnerability for your own sexual gratification."Shalders was earlier jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of more than 20 sex offences against boys at Skircoat Lodge children s home.He was found guilty of 22 of the offences by a jury at Bradford Crown Court and was acquitted of a further 14.Reporting restrictions on the case were lifted today when the trial involving his former boss, Phillips, ended.

*What they mean is, they stopped investigating beyond the point at which Shalders left the Children's Home.

21st November 

TWO ex children s home workers have been jailed for a total of 22 years after repeatedly abusing children in Malcolm Osric Phillips Shalders.Malcolm Osric Phillips (68) who headed Skircoat Lodge children s home, Halifax and Andrew James Shalders (54) who was a social worker there were convicted of child abuse and sentenced at Bradford Crown Court following two separate trials, one of which was held in August and one which concluded yesterday.Shalders, of Featherstall Road, Littleborough, Rochdale, denied over 30 charges of buggery, indecent assault and indecency with a child. All the offences were against males.He was jailed for 15 years after he was found guilty of 22 of the offences and acquitted of a further 14.Phillips, of Lincolnshire, denied 29 charges of indecent assault, indecency with a child, rape and buggery against 10 complainants - all female.He was jailed for seven years after being found guilty of 16 offences of indecent assault and two offences of committing an act of indecency with a child.He was acquitted of a further four offences of indecent assault, one of rape and one of buggery. Five other charges, including an offence of rape, will lie on the file. Reporting restrictions on the Shalders case were lifted yesterday after Phillips was sentenced.Neither of the two men showed any sign of remorse as Judge Rodney Grant passed their terms of imprisonment.Speaking to Shalders he said: "The offences are grave, wicked and despicable and it is hard to imagine a more gross breach of trust."You betrayed the trust placed in you by the public. You betrayed the trust these children were entitled to place in you. You used your position to gratify your sexual desires."In the case of Shalders, the offences took place between 1976 and 1988 and one of the complainants told the jury that when he was 15-years-old, Shalders took indecent pictures of him on the premise that he would reunite the boy with his brothers.
When passing sentence in the Phillips case, Judge Rodney Grant said: "It is clear that in your professional life you gave the reputation of being a carer of difficult children, that you were respected by those that worked in the same field as you and we have heard witnesses during this trial referring to you as charismatic and a person whose advice was valued."That appears to have been your public face but you also had another side, a darker side, a side which seems to have been hidden from the general public."You had a position of great responsibility. I have referred already to the esteem in which you were held and that increased the responsibility you owed to the children in your care and the public at large."You breached that trust, you breached the trust placed in you by the general public and the children that were placed in your care were entitled to have."You exploited their vulnerability for your own sexual gratification."A 34-year-old complainant in the case, who watched from the public gallery, broke down as Judge Grant passed sentence.
Fact file 

Malcolm Osric Phillips (68)Phillips arrived in Calderdale from Birmingham in 1976.He had been housemaster for four years at an establishment for boys aged 12-17.He qualified on a training course for social workers and took up the post of principal at Skircoat Lodge in 1976.He remained there until 1994.He was dismissed by Calderdale Council in 1996.Andrew James Shalders (54)
Shalders arrived in Calderdale in 1976 and took up the post of care worker at Skircoat Lodge.18 months later he was appointed senior residential social worker.In 1985 he was suspended after allegations were made by a number of boys but was reinstated a month later.In 1988 he moved from Children s Services to Adult Services and worked with people with learning difficulties.He was arrested in December 1997 and suspended by Calderdale Council.
Child Abuse Statistics:In March 1999, 31,900 children were on Child Protection Registers in EnglandOf these, 21 per cent were registered for sexual abuse95 per cent of children calling Childline about abuse know their abuserApproximately 90 per cent of reported offenders are menMany are married with childrenMost tend to gravitate towards professions, places and activities which put them in contact with childrenBetween one in four and one in 10 children will have experienced sexual abuse before they reach adulthoodDisabled children are five times more likely to be abused than able bodied childrenVictims often face a life battling with alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, severe depression, self harm and suicide attempts

21st November *nowt like shoving it down your throat all in one go huh...how many reports do you need in one day?!! 

PERVERTS Malcolm Phillips and Andrew Shalders are behind bars, finally brought to book for a catalogue of vile sex attacks at a Halifax children s home.Convicted after a three year police investigation, the two Skircoat Lodge "care" workers had denied 64 charges of sexual offences. They were found guilty at Bradford Crown Court of 38 charges.Malcolm Osric Phillips (68), and Andrew James Shald-ers (54), preyed on fearful, vulnerable children. Over many years, in the 70s and 80s, they abused their power and exploited their charges.Malcolm PhillipsAndrew ShaldersShalders, sentenced to 15 years, used threats and cruelly false promises to abuse young boys. Phillips, a forceful, explosive personality, exploited troubled young girls at Skircoat Lodge.Both, in their different ways, used the children in their care as unwitting sex slaves. Some children were groomed for abuse, others were so traumatised they believed the abuse was "normal".Yet both men might have escaped detection. They, and seven other suspects from Halifax care homes, were only exposed when a previous resident walked into a police station in the south of England.Those complaints, by a male in his 40s, were in 1997. They confirmed growing concerns in Calderdale Social Services. Mr Christopher Brabbs, the new director, had independently called for an investigation.This followed complaints of rape, by a former resident of Skircoat Lodge, against Phillips. He was dismissed in 1996 from his job with Calderdale Council. No criminal prosecution was made at that time.The "Evening Courier s" own investigation into the victims of Phillips and Shalders reveals the tragic effects of the legacy of abuse. Some lives were damaged beyond repair.Others grew into adulthood tainted with sorrowfull memories and suffered long-term psychological problems or turned to drink or drugs to block out the suffering.Nobody truly knows how many children were abused during the two men s reign of sexual fear at Skircoat Lodge. There are suspicions that others who were abused were too afraid and ashamed to come forward.The four-year investigation - tagged Operation Screen - was thorough and exhaustive. More than 2,500 people were interviewed and 880 statements were taken. Seventy eight people made allegations.A major inquiry into Calderdale children s services is to get under way following the convictions.The inquiry by the Area Child Protection Committee will try to find out what lessons can be learned.Head of children s services Kitty Ferris said: "The social services department had already begun this process and has reviewed the safeguards in place to protect children."Det Chief Supt Max McLean, the officer in charge of the inquiry, said: "I am very pleased with the result. In terms of the court case, 24 young people have seen justice in respect of their abusers."Children s campaigners today criticised the seven-year sentence given to Phillips.The NSPCC s Joe Cocker said: "It does not reflect the pain, the suffering and the anguish that the victims have had to endure over the last 20 years."

22nd November 

SEX victims abused in care at Skircoat Lodge are planning claims for compensation against Calderdale Council.Even if the council settles out of court, it could still face a bill running into hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds.Since pervert care workers Malcolm Phillips and Andrew Shalders have been jailed, teams of lawyers can now launch claims on behalf of several victims.More than 70 people made complaints to police about Phillips and Shalders. Fearful of court appearances, many withdrew their statements. But many other allegations were proven in court.Drug addict Matthew (not his real name) is now 38. "At first I thought money would not justify what happened and did not want compensation," he said.Matthew wants to go on a 2,000 de-tox programme and has approached lawyers about taking on his case.Halifax solicitor Robert M. Scott, a child law expert, said victims of abuse can seek remedy through the courts, either from the individual or individuals who assaulted them and/or from Calderdale Council. They can also approach the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.Grounds for complaint could include the council's failure to supervise their employees properly and liability for certain acts committed by their employees."The vast majority of claims for compensation are settled without the need for a court hearing and where physical assault has occurred, public funding may be available to the claimant," he said.Philip Lewer, Calder-dale s group director, health and social care said: "The council may receive a number of claims for compensation from victims at Skircoat Lodge."These will be referred to the council s insurers and the council will provide the insurers "with all the information they require.""The council has already received a number of inquiries from solicitors representing people who were resident at Skircoat Lodge during the time these offences took place," he said.As yet, he said the council was in no position to estimate the total cost of the claims.NOTE: Compensation is assessed on two main grounds - for injury itself, including psychological damage and for financial losses.If a sex abuse victim could show that their earning capacity was harmed over a number of years, compensation could run into tens of thousands of pounds.

*Finally, a report that outlines the basis of a compensation claim.

26th November 

CALDERDALE Council could face a bill running into thousands of pounds as victims of the Skircoat Lodge sex scandal seek compensation.Pervert care workers Malcolm Osric Phillips (68) and Andrew James Shalders (54) were jailed last week for repeatedly abusing youngsters in their care at the children s home at Skircoat Green, Halifax, between 1977 and 1986.Bids for compensation have now been stepped up as victims seek some financial recompense for their trauma.And there is growing anger over the length of the jail terms handed down to the two former council workers.Shalders was sentenced to 15 years in prison and Phillips to seven years behind bars.Halifax solicitor Anne Scott of Rice-Jones is a recognised specialist in personal injury cases. "I am representing three clients seeking compensation at the moment," she said.All three hope to claim compensation for abuse suffered whilst in care at Skircoat Lodge. The claims are at an early stage in which full statements from the claimants and/or from the CPS are being prepared.But the "Evening Courier" has been inundated with calls from victims and former residents who say their sentences were too short.One victim, who remains entitled to anonymity, said she had only given evidence in court to see Phillips get locked up.She had always wanted to see justice done rather than look to any compensation claim afterwards.But she was disappointed with his seven-year sentence and was now considering whether to make a claim."I am glad in one way but disappointed in another, having gone through all that. I said all the way through the trial that nothing can compensate for what he did," she said"It had been 20 years since I had seen him and it really freaked me out in court."She said she was trying to rebuild her life around her young daughter but the effects of the abuse were still felt. She was still scared of some men and could not let her daughter into the bathroom with her.Another victim said they all wanted a life sentence passed on the pair as all the victims faced a lifetime of trauma.She wrote a series of poems and song lyrics which tried to explain the stress and emotions which they had been forced to face.As well as explaining the terror of the perverts, they are loaded with anger but a belief that justice would eventually prevail with a long and arduous prison sentence.One tells of how they cannot shut their eyes to sleep at night.Another says: "We are only children and you're an evil man. Whenever you reached for us all we could do was freeze. We were heading for somewhere we did not want to be."

So, claims up to 1986 were accepted, the year after Shalders left the Home.

What about after 1986? The abuse was still ongoing, the tyranny, the threats and intimidation, the trafficking to other areas of those who refused to cow-tow to the man given autonomy over hundreds of lives.

*Looks under the rug...

Further Reading:

Skircoat Lodge
Skircoat Lodge Today
Another Brave Victim Speaks Out
Operation Screen