Four children under council care after ‘current of sexual abuse ran through family’

Four children aged between seven and 15 have been taken into council care after a family court judge said they had been overtaken by a “current of sexual abuse” which ran through their family.

Judge Anthony Cleary said social workers had told of concerns dating back 15 years.

The judge said lawyers compiled five lever arch files – more than 750 pages – of evidence on the family.

He questioned whether the youngsters could be “rescued”.

Detail of the case has emerged in a ruling by the judge, who sits in Coventry, after a private family court hearing.

The judge said the children could not be identified and did not name the council involved.

Both the children’s mother and father had agreed that they should go into care.

Judge Cleary said their father was the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Their mother had told Judge Cleary that the father’s family was entirely made up of “alcoholics and paedophiles”.

“There is a current of sexual abuse which runs through this family and which has overtaken the children,” said the judge.

“Whether they can be rescued and brought to shore in safety depends very much on the care and therapy which they now desperately need.”

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