Apologies for man forced to work as child slave while under council care

By The Press Association23rd May 2016News EnglandChild Abuse, Childrens Services, Foster Care, Local Authorities, News England, Nottinghamshire

A man who claims he was forced to work as a child slave after being taken into foster care has received an apology.

Terry Lodge said he was made to work on a farm when he was eight before being moved to work in a foundry at 11.

Mr Lodge, of Bassetlaw, north Nottinghamshire, said he was beaten and sometimes starved in the care of his foster carers, who are now dead.

Nottinghamshire County Council’s service director for children’s social care, Steve Edwards, met Mr Lodge to apologise after the authority concluded he “suffered harm” after being placed in care more than 40 years ago.

Mr Edwards said: “Although it is extremely difficult to compare today’s standards of care with those of more than 40 years ago, the quality of care Mr Lodge received was unsatisfactory.

“There were opportunities to protect him which were sadly not acted upon.

“Mr Lodge made a brave and difficult decision when he decided to come forward and I respect and support him for doing so. I would encourage anyone who has any concerns about the way they were treated while in care to come forward, no matter how long ago it was.”

The case of Mr Lodge has been raised in Parliament by his MP John Mann, who said: “For too long people like Mr Lodge were not believed when they brought forward their allegations.

“It is right that Nottinghamshire County Council has now formally apologised and I pay tribute to the bravery of Terry Lodge in bringing this to light.”