Survivors of abuse at council-owned Stubton Hall School demanded by Lincolnshire County Council to pay authority’s court costs

A council is demanding that survivors of abuse at a school it owned pay its “wasted costs” of over £7,000 after a court hearing had to be adjourned.

After receiving a letter from Lincolnshire County Council’s solicitors, the group of former Stubton Hall School pupils, who were abused by two members of staff including the deputy head, are accusing the authority of a sustained campaign against them.

Then deputy head David Taylor ­— who also taught at Magnus School, Newark, for a time ­— was jailed for 19 years and six months in 2021 after he was found guilty of three counts of rape, four counts of indecent assault and two counts of assault/ill treatment.

Care worker Raymond Longley, of Caythorpe, was also jailed for four years after being convicted of four counts of indecent assault relating to three girls. He had been employed at the school between 1982 and 1997.

The group of former pupils are suing the council for damages for the horrific abuse at the school, and the demand to pay the costs came after a hearing at Lincoln County Court was adjourned.

Andrew Grove, from Andrew Grove and Co Solicitors in Cambridgeshire, which is acting on behalf of the survivors, said: “We have been struggling to get copies of the former pupils’ files and other documentation from the council and on Friday (May 5) there should have been a court hearing and a judgement in relation to that.

“Unfortunately, the court hearing had to be adjourned, and although this was something we had no control over and was in no way our clients’ fault, the council’s solicitors are asking them to pay the authority’s costs.

“The claimants also incurred substantial wasted costs by reason of the adjournment and there are other avenues for both parties to seek recovery of their wasted costs. The fact that the demand was made at all demonstrates the unreasonableness of the council in dealing with this litigation brought on behalf of a group of vulnerable claimants.

“Lincolnshire County Council’s attitude towards the survivors is extremely disappointing. If the council had provided the documents to our clients in the usual way, this hearing would not have been necessary in the first place.”

Clare (not her real name), who was a pupil at Stubton Hall School between 1982 and 1987, was groomed and raped by David Taylor and was pregnant with Taylor’s child aged just 16.

Clare said that instead of handing over her school records, Lincolnshire County Council engaged a senior barrister (Kings Counsel) to argue why she and the other claimants should not be given access to their own records.

“What has the council got to hide?” said Clare.

“I would like to ask them why they are being so obstructive and why they’ve hired an expensive barrister to try to stop us from accessing our own records? We’ve suffered another painful setback in our fight for justice and then to rub salt in the wounds, they want us to pay their costs.

“The behaviour of this council towards abuse victims is reprehensible. Haven’t they caused enough damage already? I am desperate to start therapy having suffered mental health problems for years, but I simply do not have the money to pay for it. I certainly do not have £7,000 to pay Lincolnshire County Council for a court adjournment that was not my fault.”

The adjourned hearing is another delay on the long road to justice for the victims of David Taylor, Raymond Longley and other former staff at Stubton Hall School, who were employed by Lincolnshire County Council.

Despite the delays Andrew Grove said that the case would go on for as long as it takes.

“The more obstacles that are put in our way the stronger is the determination of the claimants to see the case through. We will never give up.”

Heather Sandy, executive director for children’s services, said: "Lincolnshire County Council expresses deep regret over the abuse suffered by the victims in this case, and we wish to apologise to the victims.

“We are unable to comment further at this time because of the legal claims. The council is addressing the legal issues raised by the claimants through the litigation."

Andrew Grove and Co Solicitors is still encouraging survivors from Stubton Hall School, who haven’t yet come forward, to get in touch by telephone on 01223 367133 or 07810 224545 or by email at andrew@andrewgroveandco.com