English
Senior Associate Solicitor, Abuse
In February 2022, former social worker Gordon Bennett was found by Liverpool Crown Court to have committed childhood sexual abuse on four boys who were living at Greystone Heath in the 1970s and 1980s.
The hearing took place in Bennet’s absence in December 2021 as he was deemed unfit to stand trial after being diagnosed with degenerative Alzheimer’s disease.
At the hearing, Bennett’s adult survivors provided statements detailing how the historical sexual abuse had impacted them throughout their adult lives.
We're rated‘Excellent’Greystone Heath was an Approved School in Warrington which was owned and managed by Liverpool City Council and closed in the 1980s. The building has subsequently burned down.
From the 1990s onwards, numerous other former employees of Greystone Heath, such as Alan Langshaw, Roy Shuttleworth, Keith Laverack have been convicted of historic sexual abuse.
This case shows that even if the passage of time means that the sexual abuser is no longer able to stand trial, it is still possible for adult survivors to obtain a form of resolution and closure through the criminal justice system.
Whenever our team of Abuse Solicitors is approached by someone who was sexually abused in their childhood, our advice is always to contact the police if they have not already done so, before progressing a civil claim which we can assist with.
We will also signpost childhood sexual abuse survivors to specialist support groups or organisations, where appropriate.
Greystone Heath was also the subject of a successful group action for damages against Liverpool City Council which was co-ordinated by Abney Garsden McDonald Solicitors who have since merged with Simpson Millar.
In addition to being an experienced Abuse team specialising in representing survivors of childhood sexual abuse, we also have extensive knowledge of Greystone Heath and the issues that residents encountered during the many years it was open.
We have also been instructed by many adult survivors who approached us after the group action concluded, and we continue to act for a number of people in respect of their experiences when they were residents at Greystone Heath.
Should you require support or advice in relation to any problems you encountered at Greystone Heath or any other care home when you were a child, please do not hesitate to contact our specialist team of Abuse Solicitors.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0808 239 1287
