Posts Tagged ‘advocates’
Friday, August 27th, 2010
The recent Court of Appeal decision in Raggett demonstrates for me the need to ensure that you have good and sound evidence if you are to successfully pursue a sexual abuse claim.
Preperation and research are vital. I have found that you often need to dig hard for the evidence, but it is often there. Plain good sense and justice in the face of solid evidence enables you to have a decent chance of defeating any so-called limitation defence.
Limitation defences are very unattractive in my opinion at the best of times in sexual abuse cases, and even more so when there is good evidence supporting the victim’s claim.
Alan Collins
02392 492472
Tags: abuse, advocates, case, claim, lawyers, sexual abuse, solicitors
Posted in child abuse, compensation, historic abuse, investigations, sex abuse | No Comments »
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
Here is a recent BBC report on the Braid case:
A 58-year-old teacher has been jailed for seven years for sexually abusing teenage boys at a Hampshire school over more than 30 years.
James Braid, of Gosport, was convicted in December of seven charges of multiple offences of indecent assault between 1982 and 2002.
His victims were his pupils at Bay House School in Gosport.
The judge also ordered four offences against three boys between 1978 and 1995 to be taken into consideration.
‘I was believed’
He described Braid as a “determined, deceitful and predatory paedophile”.
Sentencing him, Ian Pearson told Portsmouth Crown Court the offences Braid was found guilty of were “only a specimen” of what he had committed and they represented “hundreds of others”.
One of Braid’s victims, who has lifetime anonymity, told BBC News: “He’s got seven years in jail, that’s his sentence.
“My sentence, along with the other men, is for the rest of our life.”
The victim said “feeling angry” did not “help” and that he was trying to “look forward and think ‘right’, I was believed, people believed me, and actually now it’s time to move on”.
“Now it’s time to build my life from scratch.”
Braid was also banned for life from working with children and will be on the sex offenders register for life.
For the full report please go to www.bbc.co.uk
I am investigating the case and so please do contact me, in confidence, to discuss,
Alan Collins
02392492472
Tags: abuse, abuse claims, advocates, child abuse, child sex abuse, lawyers, sexual abuse, sexual abuse by school teacher, solicitors, victims
Posted in child abuse, compensation, historic abuse, news, personal injury, sex abuse | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
Were you a pupil at Cyntwell Secondary Modern School in Cardiff in the 196o’s/early 70’s? If so, please contact me.
Alan Collins
02392 492472
Tags: abuse, abuse claims, advocates, child abuse, child sex abuse, compensation, historic abuse, legal advice, personal injury, physical abuse, sex abuse, sexual abuse, sexual abuse by school teacher
Posted in child abuse, compensation, historic abuse, investigations, personal injury, sex abuse | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010
Here is an article that recently appeared in
THE BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH · 23-29 NOVEMBER 2009
ABUSE CLAIMS AT WEST YORKSHIRE SCHOOL
More former pupils have contacted solicitors representing alleged victims of abuse at a West Yorkshire school after police questioned three men in their sixties on claims of sexual and physical assaults going back to the 1970s. And an ex-employee has claimed William Henry Smith School (WHSS) in Rastrick, Brighouse failed to investigate an assault on a pupil he claims he witnessed just two years ago.
WHSS is a non-maintained residential special school set up in 1920. According to its website it provides high quality education and care for boys with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
In the summer West Yorkshire Police quizzed three men in connection with alleged sexual and physical assaults dating back 30 years before releasing them on bail pending further investigations.
One former pupil, Mark Edson of Selby, believes some former pupils have received compensation, although he was not one of them.
The law firm representing the former pupils, Verisona of Hampshire, would confirm this. But Alan Collins, the solicitor working on the claims, said: coverage has led to more ex-pupils contacting us. Usually in cases like this one most people do not come forward so I am still looking for witnesses prepared to talk to me about the allegations as I wonder if we are still not getting the entire picture of the full extent of the abuse.
Lee Varey from Halifax was a maintenance worker at the school from 2004 until he quit in 2007. He was impressed by the dedication of the staff and therefore left bitterly disappointed when senior staff members failed to properly investigate an attack I reported on a young man aged 16 in which he was punched four or five times by a staff member.
Varey, who claims this contributed to him leaving his post, said: No one took a statement from him even though there were many staff that knew I was unhappy about what happened.
WHSS was unwilling to respond to questions about Varey claims and whether it had carried out an investigation into them, issuing a statement saying: Any such matters would be protected by Data Protection and as such we are unable to make any comment.
Tags: abuse, abuse claims, Add new tag, advocates, child abuse, child sex abuse, claim, compensation, damages, lawyer, sexual abuse, sexual abuse by school teacher, solicitors, William Henry Smith School
Posted in child abuse, compensation, historic abuse, investigations, news, personal injury, sex abuse | No Comments »
Monday, November 16th, 2009
For me the Australian Government’s apology to the child migrants is both welcome and significant.
I have met many people who are now in their fifties, sixties, and seventies who suferred abuse as children. They have lived with the memories and consequences all of their lives, and often in silence.
A very wise judge once said that one of the pernicious fruits of child abuse is silence. How true.
It is striking that the recent media coverage has highlighted that very human need on the part of victims to be heard and recognised. Many tell me that they felt at the time that were forgotten and treated as second class victims. Maybe the perpetrators of the abuse in their cruel and warped way thought they could justify thier actions because they saw the children as somehow inferior?
Many victims as I said tell me that they need recognition, and someone in authority to say “sorry”. Kevin Rudd’s apology on behalf of Australia is therefore surely welcome. It should also be seen as example for other governments to follow.
For more on the Australian government’s apology I suggest you go to: http.//news.bbc.co.uk
or
www.theaustralian.com
Alan Collins
023 92 492472
Tags: abuse, abuse claims, advocates, apology, Australia, child abuse, child migrants, child sex abuse, claim, historic abuse, Jersey, lawyer, migrants, sexual abuse, solicitor, solicitors, victim
Posted in child abuse, compensation, historic abuse, news, personal injury | No Comments »
Monday, September 21st, 2009
HAUT DE LA GARENNE
I am of the opinion that Gordon Wateridge’s conviction and sentence is a significant step forward for those Haut de la Garenne victims seeking compensation for the abuse they suffered.
There has been plenty of coverage of Wateridge’s trial and the best place to go for this is the BBC’s website at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8266897.stm
or just go to www.bbc.co.uk and the Jersey news section under England. There is plenty of coverage on the major media websites. A good one to look at is the Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au
Many victims have had to struggle with the fact that the allegations of abuse were not believed in some quarters, and so the Wateridge conviction following on from that Aubin must in my opinion put pay to any such doubts.
The allegations of abuse cover many decades from the 1940’s down to the 1980’s. It is my suspicion that many former residents have not felt able to come forward and report their stories to the police out of fear, and embarrassment which whilst misplaced is entirely understandable. Of course it is only by coming forward that the abusers can be exposed and prosecuted, and the truth heard.
Alan Collins
23.9.09
I can be contacted on 02392492472
Tags: abuse, abuse claims, advocates, case, child abuse, child sex abuse, children's home, claim, compensation, damages, Haut de la Garenne, historic abuse, Jersey, lawyers, no win no fee, personal injury, sexual abuse
Posted in child abuse, compensation, historic abuse, investigations, news, personal injury | No Comments »
Monday, September 21st, 2009
PRESS RELEASE - Haut de la Garenne
Jersey abuse case solicitor says sentence is vindication for victims.
Haut de la Garenne victims’ solicitor speaks out on the Gordon Wateridge conviction.
Alan Collins, Solicitor-Advocate of Portsmouth-based law firm, Verisona, who is acting on behalf of some of the victims in the Haut de la Garenne children’s care home case in Jersey, says that the sentence passed on Gordon Wateridge, is a vindication for them.
He explained:
“For those victims who allege they were abused, Wateridge’s conviction today is an important milestone that has been reached and passed in their fight for justice”.
Verisona Solicitors & Advocates have been instructed to pursue civil claims against the States of Jersey. The Royal Court in St. Helier heard evidence that Wateridge, a houseparent at the home from 1970-1974, had assaulted and indecently assaulted children who were in care at Haut de la Garenne.
Alan, who is acting on behalf of victims not just in the UK but also in Australia who are seeking justice for the abuse they say they suffered, added:
The trial has brought into sharp focus the allegations. The resulting conviction is vindication of our clients’ claims of abuse and leaves little, if any, doubt that the regime that was supposed to care for them, failed in the worst possible way. It is hoped that the States of Jersey will now accept it has to do right by these people and give them the redress they seek.
Alan Collins is a Solicitor-Advocate, and Director of Verisona Solicitors and Advocates. He can be contacted on 023 92492472 or 07899916899 for further comment.
Tags: abuse, advocates, case, claim, Haut de la Garenne, lawyers, sexual abuse, solicitors
Posted in child abuse, compensation, historic abuse, investigations, news, personal injury | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
In an interview with BBC Radio Jersey on 23rd June I explained that the Michael Aubin case was an important step forward for the Haut de la Garenne victims in their fight for justice. This was because the evidence and sentence should put pay to those who were of the opinion that the allegations were false. Clearly by any standard all was not well at Haut de la Garenne.
For reports on the case go to the BBC’s website at www.news.bbc.co.uk
Alan Collins
www.verisona.com
Tags: abuse claims, advocates, Haut de la Garenne, Jersey, lawyers, solicitors, verisona
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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
22.06.09
PRESS RELEASE
Jersey abuse case solicitor says sentence is vindication for victims
Portsmouth solicitor speaks out on Aubin sentence Alan Collins, solicitor-advocate for Portsmouth-based Verisona and who has acted on behalf of some of the victims in the Jersey Haut de la Garenne children’s care home case, says that todays successful prosecution and sentencing of Michael Aubin is vindication for them. Petersfield resident Collins, who has travelled as far as Australia in his bid to seek justice for his clients, said:”The outcome today puts paid to any belief that all was OK at Haut de la Garenne because clearly it was not. What happened is tragic for all those involved and, hopefully minds will now turn to how best to make amends to the victims. Many still suffer, considerably, as a result of what they had to endure and I am seeking compensation for those who have instructed me to do so”.
Tags: abuse claims, advocates, Haut de la Garenne, Jersey, lawyers, solicitors, verisona
Posted in child abuse, compensation, historic abuse, investigations, personal injury, sex abuse | Comments Off
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
It is excellent news that Michael Aubin has pleaded guilty to some of the abuse charges that he faced arising out of the Haut de la Garenne investigation.
Claims had been made that Haut de la Garenne victims had been lying on fabricating in some way, but this admission of guilt demonstrates that the decision to investigate by Jersey Police was well founded, and to subsequently commence a prosecution.
The admission of guilt in my opinion re-inforces the victims’ claim for compensation for the abuse that they suffered as children at Haut de la Garenne.
Tags: abuse, abuse claims, advocates, Haut de la Garenne, lawyers, sexual abuse, solicitors, verisona
Posted in child abuse, compensation, historic abuse, investigations, personal injury, sex abuse | Comments Off
