A children’s home worker and former fireman has appeared in court charged with 33 offences against boys aged between seven and fourteen years old. The historic offences include indecent assault, buggery and attempted buggery.
Bruce McLean, 62, who was friends with footballers and during his time working as a care worker, is accused of sexually assaulting boys in his care whist he was employed at Taxal Edge Children’s Home in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, in the 1970s then at Kilrie Children’s Home in Knutsford, Cheshire, from 1979 onwards.
The former residential care worker was described as being ‘liked’ and ‘trusted’ by the ‘impressionable young children’ in his care, some of whom say that they were abused on the grounds of a large house in Nantwich after being driven there in McLean’s car.
It is alleged that McLean use his connections with Manchester United as a way to ‘buy a form of silence’ and he would take his alleged victims to the Manchester United training ground and to visit a factory where he got sportswear to gift to some of the young boys. We would today refer to this particular type of conduct as grooming.
McLean has already served time in prison after being convicted of 10 counts of indecent assault involving seven boys and a girl. He was found guilty of these offences in 1997.
The 4 week trial at Chester Crown Court continues.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of abuse at the hands of a person in a position of trust such as a care worker, foster carer or indeed any other person and you would like confidential advice on making a claim, our team at Farleys are specialised, experienced and dedicated in discussing matters relating to this area of law. It can often be extremely difficult to make that first call but our sensitive and highly confidential approach can help you to try and make sense of your options. Contact our Abuse Team on 0330 134 6430 or alternatively you can email me at paul.corrigan@farleys.com
