Children's home abuse investigation closed

A five-year police investigation into the "systemic" abuse of children with learning disabilities has been closed.

Children were punched, kicked in the stomach and locked outside naked in winter at homes run by Hesley Group in Doncaster between 2018 and 2021, an expert review panel found in 2023.

But the BBC has learned no full file of evidence was ever submitted to prosecutors, nor request made of them to make charging decisions.

No staff were charged or arrested and South Yorkshire Police said the evidential threshold had not been met for prosecution in what it described as "an incredibly complex case".

The force declined to respond to questions over whether any staff accused of harming children had subsequently been accused of abusing other vulnerable people.

More than 100 children were harmed between 2018 and 2021 at three children's homes in Doncaster, which were rated "good" by Ofsted throughout.

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 BBC investigations revealed the appalling mistreatment suffered by some of the most vulnerable children in the country. We discovered that children were:

• Punched, kicked in the stomach and dragged across the floor
• Repeatedly locked outside overnight in winter
• A Muslim child was fed bacon while black girls had their heads shaved

We also revealed that children faced appalling neglect and emotional abuse - including being fed chilli flakes, made to sit in cold baths and having vinegar poured on cuts.

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.

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

Maria's son Oliver is autistic and has complex needs and was placed with Hesley in 2019.

She says she would frequently find her son wearing no underwear and with unexplained bruises when she visited him.

Like many families, she's received evidence of the nature of the abuse her son suffered in the last year.

She says the failure to charge a single staff member is "absolutely outrageous".

"South Yorkshire Police has deprived children and young people with learning disabilities of the justice they deserve."

Maria added the decision to take no further action was a "desperate reflection of how as a society we treat our vulnerable people."

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 BBC has been told South Yorkshire Police only sought advice twice from the Crown Prosecution Service – once when briefing prosecutors in 2024 and a second time to discuss a "small" number of legal points in 2025.

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.

It added it would not confirm or deny whether any staff accused of harming children had subsequently been accused of abusing other vulnerable people because it would identify them.

If you have more information about this story, you can reach Noel directly and securely through encrypted messaging app Signal on: +44 7809 334720 or by email at noel.titheradge@bbc.co.uk