Payouts for ex-cadets in child sex abuse case
WIN FIVE-FIGURE COMPENSATION FROM MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
TWO men who were sexually abused as teenagers by a former army cadet sergeant major have won five-figure compensation payouts from the Ministry of Defence.
A third man has also won a fivefigure settlement despite his case against Edward Dale, 76, never reaching court, solicitors have revealed.
It comes as an investigation by the BBC’s Panorama alleges sex abuse cases within the MOD’s cadets were covered up.
Tonight’s programme will claim that between 2012 and 2017, there were 363 allegations made across the army, air and sea cadet forces, both historical and current.
One of Dale’s victims told the M.E.N. how the abuse he suffered shattered his childhood. He said he became alcohol-dependent, suicidal and suffered brain damage because of his addiction.
The victim, from Salford, said: “People around him knew what was going on and it was hidden. He was protected.”
The man was abused by Dale at a cadet unit.
Dale was in charge there in the late 1970s and early 80s.
He was jailed for seven years in 2013 for sexual abuse involving boys, but further victims came forward and a Bolton Crown Court jury found in 2015 that he had abused three further boys – all cadets – over eight years from 1976.
Dale, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, was charged with eight counts of indecent assault but concerns over his ability to enter pleas because of his condition led to a ‘factfinding trial’ being held.
The jury ruled after hearing evidence from the victims that he committed the acts in seven of the eight counts.
Dale, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, was sentenced to a sixmonth supervision order and a judge also issued a sexual harm prevention order. His legal team, however, said that ‘dangers’ had passed ‘bearing in mind his age and his medication condition.’ The victim, who was abused by Dale at the centre as he slept in a tent and at a barracks during an organised trip, added: “I used to have dreams about it all, but coming out with things was the best thing to happen to me. “I remember him walking around with a stick dressed in his uniform. I just wanted him to be known for what he is.” Law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp represented two of the victims in the case and said the MOD settled their claims despite denying liability. The firm said the third man came Abuse victim forward after reading about the case, but police said they couldn’t prosecute because of Dale’s health.
Senior solicitor Rebecca Sheriff said that the MOD also settled that case out of court for a five-figure sum, which would enable treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.
She said Dale took advantage of his position of authority in the cadets to groom and abuse the children in his care.
“I am pleased to say that my clients were able to obtain successful settlements in their claims and ultimately hold the Ministry of Defence to account for what they suffered,” she added.
The MOD said it couldn’t comment on individual cases, but said: “Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime, and we have robust procedures in place to protect cadets.
“This includes all adults who work with children undergoing mandatory security and background checks, rigorous disclosure procedures and regular safeguarding training. We encourage anyone who has been a victim, or knows someone who has, to report it to the police.“