How Could You? Hall of Shame-UK-Malcolm Phillips and Linda Brunning

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Birmingham, UK, a children’s home manager, Malcolm Phillips, 93, “abused youngsters in his care has been told he will not go to prison – as his female assistant was jailed for 25 years for helping his attacks.

Malcolm Phillips, 93, “cultivated a culture of fear” at Skircoat Lodge in Halifax, committing sexual and physical offences against four girls and two boys between 1976 and 1994.

Phillips, who was deemed unfit to face a criminal trial, was given an absolute discharge by the judge at Bradford Crown Court, who said she was “bound by the statutory framework”.

Linda Brunning, 67, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a boy and helping Phillips sexually abuse another boy in the 1980s and 90s.

Phillips had faced charges of rape, indecent assault and indecency with a child, but was deemed unfit to face a criminal trial so faced what is known as a trial of facts.

Unlike a normal case, in a trial of facts a jury cannot find the person guilty – instead it determines if they committed the alleged offences. Although they cannot be convicted, they can be acquitted.

The trial concluded in January and a jury found Phillips, now living in Birmingham, had carried out the offences.”

“Karen Bentham is pictured as a child of 14. She is wearing blue and white striped trousers and a white shirt. She has blond hair and is perched on the edge of a seat.

Outside court, Angela Radford said: “I’ve waited 50 years for him to be given an absolute discharge.

“I’ve served the time, not him.”

“In 2001, Phillips had been convicted of abusing eight girls at Skircoat Lodge in the 1970s and 80s and was sentenced to seven years in jail.

The home was for children aged four to 16 who were the subject of care orders and placed there for their own safety.”

Care worker who helped boss with child abuse jailed for 25 years

[BBC 6/8/26 by Emma Glasbey and Julia Bryson]

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