More ex-patients contact Aston Hall child abuse inquiry | North of England | The Guardian

Police say a further 15 former patients and staff have come forward since report published

A further 15 people have contacted police after reports of allegations of historical child abuse at a psychiatric hospital in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire Constabulary published a report this week saying that at least 65 children were allegedly abused at Aston Hall between 1954 and the 1970s. Former patients at the hospital said they were stripped naked, put in straitjackets, drugged and sexually assaulted.

The report said most of the abuse was allegedly committed by Dr Kenneth Milner, the hospital’s medical superintendent, who died in 1976. It said he would have been questioned over rape and cruelty claims if he was still alive.

Police said media attention had prompted a further 15 people – former members of staff at the hospital and former patients – to contact the investigation team.

A total of 130 people have now spoken to police about alleged abuse at Aston Hall. The report records 73 alleged crimes, including 40 sexual offences. Other staff members accused of physical abuse had either been eliminated from the inquiry, were also dead or could not be identified, it said.

DCS Kem Mehmet said: “I am pleased that people have felt confident enough to contact our investigation team following the publication of these findings. We have received a number of positive comments from victims about the way in which the police have sensitively dealt with the investigation. One of our officers received a thank you card from a victim which referred to them turning from a victim into a warrior.”

Aston Hall hospital was founded in 1925 as a hospital for people with learning disabilities, and later became a treatment centre for children with learning disabilities and mental health issues.

More than 50 local authorities sent children to Aston Hall, and lawyers believe there could be thousands of victims.