Police close five year probe into abuse at Doncaster care homes, with no arrests

A five year police probe into the abuse of children with learning disabilites at three Doncaster care homes has been closed - with no staff arrested or charged.

Children were punched, kicked in the stomach and locked outside naked in winter at homes run by Hesley Group between 2018 and 2021.

The BBC has now reported that no full file of of evidence was ever submitted to prosecutors, nor request made of them to make charging decisions.

South Yorkshire Police said the evidential threshold had not been met for prosecution in what it described as "an incredibly complex case.”

More than 100 children were harmed, with abuse including children being fed chilli flakes, left in soiled clothes and having vinegar poured on cuts.

In other incidents, children were punched, kicked in the stomach and dragged across the floor, repeatedly locked outside overnight in winter while a Muslim child was fed bacon and black girls had their heads shaved.

Scores of vulnerable children lived and were educated in the homes - many of whom had disabilities and were non-verbal and living far away from home.

A national panel found the abuse was "systemic and sustained" and investigations revealed the appalling mistreatment suffered by some of the most vulnerable children in the country.

Ofsted received more than 100 alerts about concerns without intervening before the homes were closed. South Yorkshire Police and the local authority were also repeatedly warned about allegations.

Last year, the force commissioned an independent review into missed opportunities carried out by Hydrant - a specialist team of senior officers that supports forces with abuse investigations – while it continued to investigate.

But the force has now ended its investigation without saying what the Hydrant team's findings were – or whether it recommended re-opening its investigation into the abuse of children or pursuing other avenues for prosecution, the BBC has said.

South Yorkshire Police has also reportedly written to families to say further investigation into the culpability of Hesley as an organisation has also ended without charges being brought.

In a statement, South Yorkshire Police said: "This is an incredibly complex and sensitive case and we recognise the impact this has had on all of those involved.

"I want to thank them for their patience whilst we have worked through the complexity of this investigation and sought advice from the CPS."

The force said it would not disclose the findings of the Hydrant review into its investigation because of ongoing legal action being taken by the families.

Following the investigations, the Hesley Group said it had closed the homes, recognised that failings had been identified and was "deeply sorry" to those who had been affected.