Police report reveals extent of Jimmy Savile's abuse of pupil's at Barnardo's-run school
Barnardo says it is “shocked and saddened” after a police report found Jimmy Savile carried out sexual assaults on pupils at one its approved schools in England.
Savile perpetrated the abuse at Duncroft School for girls in Staines which was run by the charity Mind from 1949 to 1976 before Barnardo’s took over in October 1976 to December 1979.
A report on Savile’s offending at the school, published by Surrey Police, said 13 victims were abused on at least two occasions by Savile and five were assaulted when the school was under the control of Barnardo’s in October 1976.
In total Savile carried out 46 sexual assaults on 22 pupils and one visitor to Duncroft, said the report.
The TV presenter first visited Duncroft on 21 January 1974, with evidence saying he visited at least 16 times, although police believe he visited far more frequently.
The police inquiry found 25 of Savile’s 46 sexual offences took place within the school’s grounds, the entrance to the school, the communal TV room, the kitchen and the dining room.
Some 13 other attacks were allegedly carried out in Savile’s car.
In response, Barnardo’s said it placed great importance on still being there for the children who grew up in its care, and would encourage any victim of historical abuse to come forward and seek support from the charity.
Chief executive Javed Khan added: “We thank the victims for their courage in coming forward after so many years. We know how hard this must have been for them.
“Barnardo’s did everything it could to cooperate fully with Operation Outreach, spending many hours researching records and information in order to uncover the truth about the scale of abuse perpetrated by Jimmy Savile at Duncroft School.
“We know that Jimmy Savile visited Duncroft on two or three occasions during the three years Barnardo’s managed the school. Six former pupils told the investigation that they were sexually assaulted by Savile over this period.
“We are shocked and saddened by what the investigation has found, however, there is no evidence that any staff knew about the abuse at the time.
“We are sorry that the standards of social work practice at the time have led to some people feeling they were let down by the care system at Duncroft.”
