Skircoat Lodge trial: Woman convicted of abuse at Halifax children's home

Linda Brunning was this afternoon remanded in custody to await her sentence hearing on April 27, but Judge Kirstie Watson told her that she now faced an inevitable prison sentence having been convicted of serious offending.

The jury, of six men and six women, had been considering the evidence against Brunning and the former principal at Skircoat Lodge, Malcolm Phillips, for five days.

The allegations, some of which dated back to the mid-1970s, involved six complainants who must not be identified for legal reasons.

Phillips, 93, of New Imperial Crescent, Birmingham, was ruled unfit to stand trial at an earlier court hearing and he was not present throughout the seven-week hearing.

In his case, the jury were asked to determine whether he committed the acts alleged against him and today they decided that he had committed a series of sexual offences including rape, buggery and indecent assaults against four girls and two boys.

Phillips will also be sentenced in April, but the nature of his convictions means the sentencing options are limited.

Brunning, 66, of St Peter’s Avenue, Sowerby Bridge, was found guilty by the jury of indecently assaulting one teenage boy and further offences of aiding and abetting Phillips to commit sexual offences against a second boy.

Judge Watson adjourned the sentence hearing so that an updated medical report on Phillips could be prepared and arrangements could be made for impact statements to be provided by the complainants in the case.

Earlier in the trial, prosecutor Miss Michelle Colborne KC said the defendants worked together at the home for 16 years.

Phillips was suspended from his post in 1994 and Brunning was moved to adult social care in the same year.

“As the principal officer in charge, Malcolm Phillips had overall responsibility for the running of Skircoat Lodge,” said Miss Colborne.

“With that position came power. He let no-one challenge his authority. The children were placed in his trust.

“The prosecution case is that Malcolm Phillips controlled Skircoat Lodge and the children who lived there.

“Staff either looked up to him, or were intimidated by him, so he behaved as he wished.”

She alleged that during almost two decades Phillips used his power to isolate specific children to use for his sexual gratification.

Miss Colborne also alleged that Brunning was adept at isolating and manipulating children.

She said Brunning was “a large and domineering woman” who took pleasure in physically hurting and humiliating children.

“At her worst she facilitated the abuse by Malcolm Phillips upon a small defenceless child,” alleged Miss Colborne.

She submitted that it was a feature of the case that the children were chosen carefully by the defendants.

Miss Colborne revealed to the jury that Phillips had already been convicted of sexually abusing eight other female residents following a police investigation and trial in 2001.

She said his convictions were relevant because they were capable of demonstrating that Phillips had a propensity to abuse children in his care.

Phillips is also alleged to have raped a teenage girl on two occasions.

“For almost two decades the abuse of children went unfettered and unreported against a backdrop of legitimacy,” alleged Miss Colborne.

“Life at Skircoat Lodge was outwardly welcoming, offering routine and discipline. Behind the scenes life for the children living there was tough or unsafe.

“The prosecution contends that Malcolm Phillips and Linda Brunning managed to avoid detection because no-one dared to speak out against them or if they did disclose what was happening they were ignored or moved on.

“They would belittle staff, silence complaints and resort to violence if their authority was challenged.

“There was a regime of fear and staff walked on eggshells, which meant they kept their concerns to themselves.”

Miss Colborne said Phillips was said to be able to silence a full dining room simply by tapping a piece of cutlery.

She alleged that Brunning was “a large fearsome character” who used her size to overwhelm children “slapping them or taking them to the floor” where she would sit on them.

The jury were told that Phillips denied anything of a sexual nature ever happened and accused the four female complainants and two men of being liars.

In a prepared statement in 2019 Phillips said he was the victim of a high-profile media campaign to discredit him.

Miss Colborne said Brunning likewise contended that the evidence had all been made up.