Home / Crime and Justice / Medomsley Abuse Survivors Demand Justice Decades After Horrific Mistreatment
Medomsley Abuse Survivors Demand Justice Decades After Horrific Mistreatment
12 Nov
Summary
- Vicious physical assault on arrival at Medomsley Detention Center
- Apology from Prison Service Ombudsman called "too little, too late"
- Thousands of victims suffered abuse over 26-year period at the center
In a shocking exposé, survivors of abuse at the Medomsley Detention Center in the UK have come forward to share their harrowing experiences. According to the report, detainees as young as 17 faced systematic physical and sexual violence at the facility from 1961 to 1987.
One survivor, Peter Toole, recounts being viciously assaulted as soon as he arrived at Medomsley in 1985. He describes being slammed against a wall by a gatekeeper and forced to "bunny hop" in the gym, all while being threatened with further abuse. Toole, now 61, says the recent apology from the Prison Service Ombudsman is "too little, too late."
The report reveals that authorities were aware of the abuse, including the actions of Neville Husband, a catering officer identified as Britain's most prolific sex offender. Husband allegedly targeted thousands of victims during his 16 years at Medomsley and 30 years in the prison system, with staff and governors turning a blind eye to his crimes.
In total, an estimated 45,000-30,000 young people passed through Medomsley over the 26-year period, and the report suggests many victims chose to remain silent rather than face the trauma of speaking out. The government has now announced a new Youth Custody Safeguarding Panel to review how children are protected in custody and ensure such horrors are never repeated.
