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Skircoat Lodge children's home assistant jailed 25 years for abuse, boss deemed unfit for trial avoids prison

Former Skircoat Lodge children's home manager Malcolm Phillips, 93, who was found to have committed systematic sexual and physical abuse of at least 6 vulnerable children in his care between 1976 and 1994, received an absolute discharge at Bradford Crown Court after being ruled unfit to stand criminal trial, while his former assistant Linda Brunning, 67, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for aiding Phillips in his abuse. Multiple survivors of the abuse expressed anger at Phillips avoiding prison time while also noting relief at their accounts being validated by the court verdict.