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Detectives trawl regional daily’s archives for sex case clues

A crack team of experienced detectives are trawling a regional daily’s archives for clues in the UK’s biggest historic sex abuse case.

The detectives, brought out of retirement by Durham Constabulary, have visited the offices of Newcastle daily The Chronicle to look through old articles the newspaper published about Medomsley Detention Centre.

More than more than 1,240 former inmates at Medomsley have now come forward to report being physically or sexually abused while being held at the facility, near Consett, in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

The victims came forward after the force launched Operation Seabrook, with the aim of establishing exactly what happened at the facility, bringing any surviving offenders to justice, and making sure victims get the help and support they needed.

Two former detectives visited The Chronicle’s offices to look through the archives on Medomsley, which are held in its library on microfilm.

It generated an eye-catching front page for the paper last Wednesday, pictured below.

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Crime Reporter Sophie Doughty said:  “We have been closely following the Operation Seabrook investigation in the Chronicle since it was launched two years ago. A key aim of the operation is for detectives to understand the cultures and regimes at Medomsley Detention Centre and how it operated within the context of the time it was open.

“We were contacted by detectives from the team who asked if they could come and take a look at our archives as they believed some of the Chronicle’s stories could help them in building this picture.

“Obviously we were more than happy to help with this incredibly important investigation The detectives were able to find what they were looking for in papers held on microfilm.

“Their visit also gave me a good opportunity to get a real flavour of how the team were working to get justice for the more than 1,240 potential abuse victims.”

With the investigation phase of the operation complete and all surviving main suspects identified and interviewed, the Seabrook team has now submitted files to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and is awaiting advice that will identify individuals likely to be charged – and which victims may be required to give evidence.

Det Supt Paul Goundry, who has led the two-year investigation, said: “This investigation is probably one of the most challenging the country has faced, not just due to the number of victims but also because Medomsley closed in 1986, which means we are talking about events that occurred between 30 and 50 years ago.

“The investigation team is made up of very experienced detectives who have built up close bonds with many of the victims. Some hardened detectives have been quite traumatised by the accounts of the victims.”

Operation Seabrook was launched following the convictions of former prison worker the late Neville Husband, who was jailed 10 years ago for abusing youngsters at the centre.

The judge in Husband’s second trial ruled that there would be no further prosecutions against the convict, however, the case sparked a number of new previously unknown victims to come forward.

Detective Alan Simpson, who has been looking through the old files at the Chronicle

Detective Alan Simpson, who has been looking through the old files at the Chronicle