Lincolnshire County Council is demanding that abuse survivors pay its “wasted costs” of over £7,000 after a hearing at Lincoln County Court had to be adjourned.  

After receiving a letter from the authority’s solicitors, the group of former Stubton Hall School pupils, who were abused by two members of staff including the deputy headmaster, are accusing Lincolnshire County Council of a sustained campaign against them. 

Andrew Grove from Andrew Grove and Co Solicitors in Cambridgeshire, which is acting on behalf of the survivors, explained: “We have been struggling to get copies of the former pupils’ files and other documentation from the council and on Friday (5^th May 2023) there should have been a court hearing and a judgement in relation to that. 

“Unfortunately the court hearing had to be adjourned, and although this was something we had no control over and was in no way our clients’ fault, the council’s solicitors are asking them to pay the authority’s costs. 

“The Claimants also incurred substantial wasted costs by reason of the adjournment and there are other avenues for both parties to seek recovery of their wasted costs. The fact that the demand was made at all demonstrates the unreasonableness of the council in dealing with this litigation brought on behalf of a group of vulnerable claimants. 

“Lincolnshire County Council’s attitude towards the survivors is extremely disappointing.  If the council had provided the documents to our clients in the usual way, this hearing would not have been necessary in the first place.” 

Clare (not her real name), who was a pupil at Stubton Hall School between 1982 and 1987, was groomed and raped by the then Deputy Head Teacher David Taylor and was pregnant with Taylor’s child aged just 16. 

Clare said that instead of handing over her school records, Lincolnshire County Council engaged a senior barrister (Kings Counsel) to argue why she and the other claimants should not be given access to their own records.   

“What has the council got to hide?” said Clare. “I would like to ask them why they are being so obstructive and why they’ve hired an expensive barrister to try to stop us from accessing our own records? We’ve suffered another painful setback in our fight for justice and then to rub salt in the wounds, they want us to pay their costs!  

“The behaviour of this council towards abuse victims is reprehensible. Haven’t they caused enough damage already? I am desperate to start therapy having suffered mental health problems for years, but I simply do not have the money to pay for it.  I certainly do not have £7,000 to pay Lincolnshire County Council for a court adjournment that was not my fault.” 

The adjourned hearing is another delay on the long road to justice for the victims of David Taylor, Raymond Longley and other former staff at Stubton Hall School, who were employed by Lincolnshire County Council. David Taylor and Raymond Longley were given lengthy prison sentences in 2021 for various offences against the children in their care.  

Despite the delays Andrew Grove said that the case would go on for as long as it takes.   

“The more obstacles that are put in our way the stronger is the determination of the claimants to see the case through.  We will never give up.”  

Andrew Grove & Co Solicitors is still encouraging survivors from Stubton Hall School, who haven’t yet come forward, to get in touch by telephone on 01223 367133 or 07810 224545 or by email at andrew@andrewgroveandco.com