A 92-year-old former care home manager, Malcolm Phillips, is accused of using his position to isolate and sexually abuse vulnerable children at Skircoat Lodge in Halifax, West Yorkshire, over a period of nearly two decades. According to court proceedings, Phillips used his "unfettered access" to the children's bedrooms while they slept to commit indecent assaults on multiple young girls.
Phillips, who was the manager from 1976 until his retirement in 1994, allegedly took advantage of his power and control over the children, many of whom had already suffered physical or sexual abuse. Some were "simply unwanted" and labeled as troublemakers by the system, making them particularly vulnerable to Phillips' exploitation.
Phillips' assistant, Linda Brunning, 66, is also accused of helping him abuse the children and committing indecent assaults herself. Prosecutors claim that Brunning was skilled at isolating and manipulating the children, using tactics such as threatening to withhold their pocket money or taking away family visits if they disobeyed her.
The court heard that Phillips would often wear a flat leading to the girls' bedrooms, allowing him easy access to them while they slept. He would also use his position to make the girls feel isolated and powerless, telling them that no one cared about them or believed their stories.
One complainant described being told to wear nighties to bed, only for Phillips to enter her room at night and commit indecent assaults on her. Another victim, just 10 years old at the time, accused Phillips of sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions while she was in bed.
Phillips is facing numerous charges related to his alleged abuse, including three counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecency with a child, and two counts of rape. Brunning is charged with one count of indecent assault and two counts of aiding and abetting buggery.
The trial continues, with jurors hearing the evidence against Phillips and Brunning in a bid to hold them accountable for their alleged crimes.
Phillips, who was the manager from 1976 until his retirement in 1994, allegedly took advantage of his power and control over the children, many of whom had already suffered physical or sexual abuse. Some were "simply unwanted" and labeled as troublemakers by the system, making them particularly vulnerable to Phillips' exploitation.
Phillips' assistant, Linda Brunning, 66, is also accused of helping him abuse the children and committing indecent assaults herself. Prosecutors claim that Brunning was skilled at isolating and manipulating the children, using tactics such as threatening to withhold their pocket money or taking away family visits if they disobeyed her.
The court heard that Phillips would often wear a flat leading to the girls' bedrooms, allowing him easy access to them while they slept. He would also use his position to make the girls feel isolated and powerless, telling them that no one cared about them or believed their stories.
One complainant described being told to wear nighties to bed, only for Phillips to enter her room at night and commit indecent assaults on her. Another victim, just 10 years old at the time, accused Phillips of sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions while she was in bed.
Phillips is facing numerous charges related to his alleged abuse, including three counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecency with a child, and two counts of rape. Brunning is charged with one count of indecent assault and two counts of aiding and abetting buggery.
The trial continues, with jurors hearing the evidence against Phillips and Brunning in a bid to hold them accountable for their alleged crimes.
I mean, can you even imagine being trapped in a care home like that at such a young age? It's heartbreaking to think about these kids being taken advantage of by someone in a position of power 
. Phillips and Brunning are not just abusers, they're also predators who preyed on vulnerable children who already had so much going against them 
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. How many more like Malcolm Phillips are still out there? We need to get a handle on these issues and make sure we're doing everything we can to keep kids safe 
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This whole case just makes me wanna ask what kind of system lets this happen? I mean, 92 years old man running care home, having full access to kids' bedrooms... how did that even get past quality control? 
It's like a ticking time bomb waiting to happen. And then you got the poor girls, being manipulated and isolated by their supposed caregivers... it's just heartbreaking.
. I mean, I know we've had our issues with abuse of power in the past, but this is just mind-blowing. The fact that he was able to get away with it for so long is just unbelievable. And his excuse, that he was just taking advantage of vulnerable kids who were already messed up? No excuses, right? 
I'm all for giving people a second chance, but not when they've committed such heinous crimes. It's like, how can you even look at yourself in the mirror after doing what he did? And his assistant is just as guilty, using her position to manipulate and abuse those kids... it's just sickening 
. The fact that we're still hearing about this kind of abuse 50 years later is just heartbreaking 
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And the fact that Phillips was able to use his position to make them feel powerless and isolated, it's just disgusting. 
How many more lives were ruined because of this monster's actions? 
I just hope justice is served and these people get the punishment they deserve. The victims need closure and a chance to heal. 
this system failed those kids big time, leaving them vulnerable to predators like Phillips. his assistant too... what kind of twisted games do you play? manipulating kids into feeling isolated & powerless... it's just heartbreaking. 
but seriously how could people let this happen in the care system? it's not like they were just any ordinary children, they're already vulnerable because of their situation. and to think he had a flat key right next to the girls' bedrooms 
... that's just sick. I hope he gets locked up for life 
anyway, let's just take care of ourselves and each other right now 
... 92?! How could someone so old still be hurting innocent kids like that? I mean, I know age isn't an excuse, but come on! Phillips' story is like something out of a horror movie - the power he had, the way he manipulated those poor girls, it's just sickening