I am investigating allegations of abuse in relation to James Braid who was recently convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court. I would be please to talk to anyone, in confidence, about the case.
Alan Collins
Tel.: 02392492472
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Posts Tagged ‘solicitors’
Bay House School
Thursday, February 18th, 2010William Henry Smith School
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010Here 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 wasn’t one of them.
The law firm representing the former pupils, Verisona of Hampshire, wouldn’t confirm this. But Alan Collins, the solicitor working on the claims, said: “Media coverage has led to more ex-pupils contacting us. Usually in cases like this one most people don’t 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’s 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.
Haut de la Garenne
Monday, September 21st, 2009PRESS 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.
Haut de la Garenne
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009In 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
Haut de la Garenne
Wednesday, June 24th, 200922.06.09
PRESS RELEASE
Vindication for victims
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009It 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.
Claiming damages for sexual abuse
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009The case of Raggett and the Preston Catholic College has been widely reported in the media.
The High Court’s decision to allow Mr Raggett to purue his case is very welcome news for abuse victims.
As in the Raggett case abuse victims often have thrown in their faces, when they seek justice, by defendants the “defence” they they are out of time.
Abuse victims invariably in my experience wait many years before coming forward and seeking justice, and this often because of the effects of the abuse they suffered. It is very unfair that the abuse has this additional insult in that it continues to plague them by obstructing their ability to get compensation. There is something very unpalletable that defendants have this windfall enabling them to have chance at avoiding to meet the victims’ claims.
Fortunately in the Raggett case the court was prepared to exercise its limited discretion to allow the claim to proceed out of time. The Defendant’s claim that it was prejudiced by the “delay” does not appear to have been borne out by the evidence.
The case reinforces my opinion that for an abuse claim to procced there needs to be sound evidence, eg, documents and/or other other witnesses. If you can get evidence to bolster the claim then that may go along way to defeat a defendant’s arguement that it has been prejudiced by delay.
For more on the Raggett case I suggest you go to The Times (6th May 2009). There is also a piece by Ruth Gledhill.
Alan Collins
Tel.: 02392380112
For Dyer Burdett & Co read VERISONA
Friday, December 5th, 2008On 1st October 2008 Dyer Burdett & Co merged with Gray Purdue to form Verisona.
I have moved to our new office at 1000 Lakeside North Harbour Portsmouth and it is from here that I shall be running the Haut de la Garenne case. I can still see clients and witnesses at the Havant office, or elsewhere if neither location is convenient.
My contact telephone number is : 023 9238 0112
Alan Collins
Haut de la Garenne Lawyers
Monday, May 19th, 2008I have teamed-up with advocate Mark Temple of Ozannes in St. Helier to provide legal advice and assistance to those Haut de la Garenne victims who may feel in need of it.
If you are a Haut de la Garenne victim and you want legal advice we will be please to meet you.
Anything you say to us will be treated in confidence.
If you are unsure as to your legal rights or your position, or simply just do not know what to do, then it might be sensible to get advice.
We will be pleased to discuss matters with you.
Haut de la Garenne - information in Australia sought
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008I have taken part in a number of radio interviews which will be syndicated throught out Australia in advance of my arrival there next month when I will be talking to victims and witnesses.
If you would like to speak with me please get in touch.
My telephone number is 023 92 492472
e-mail: alc@dyerburdett.com
Alan Collins