The only Knowl View charges are dropped
THE case against the only person charged in connection with a new investigation into historical sexual abuse at a Rochdale school has been dropped.
David Higgins, 76, was charged with 19 child sex offences in connection with allegations at Knowl View and was facing a trial in December.
It has now been revealed that Higgins is already serving a 14-year sentence for child sex crimes he committed while he was a teacher in Yorkshire.
In April, Higgins was charged with 18 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted indecent assault of two boys under the age of 16, all related to the Rochdale inquiry.
GMP launched a full criminal investigation in July 2014 in the wake of a book by the town’s MP, Simon Danczuk, which detailed alleged widespread abuse at Knowl View by former MP Cyril Smith and others.
The investigation has so far cost at least £500,000.
Higgins was due to stand trial at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court on December 12 after pleading not guilty at an earlier hearing. But now the case against him has been stopped.
The charges related to alleged incidents of historical abuse against two young boys at Knowl View between 1969 and 1971. The alleged offences were reported separately to GMP in 2013 and 2015.
Operation Jaguar was launched following reports of both physical and sexual abuse at Knowl View from 1969 until it closed in 1995.
Thirteen files with multiple allegations were submitted by GMP to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), relating to 27 suspects and 16 victims, of both physical and sexual offences. Only Higgins was charged.
Now in a letter to one of the two alleged victims the CPS prosecutor has said: “I have reviewed further information presented to me by the police. I have now taken the decision to stop the case.
“This is because there are some inconsistencies between the account given by you to the police during this investigation and other documented accounts.”
The alleged victim, who is bedridden, told our sister paper the M.E.N.: “I am gutted.”
Assistant Chief Constable Debbie Ford said: “GMP conducted an extensive and through investigation, into which a significant amount of resources were invested, and in April 2016 David Higgins of HMP Rye Hill, was charged with 18 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempt indecent assault of boys under the age of 16.
“In October 2016 the CPS advised that the case should be discontinued and no further action will be taken.
“We recognise this will be a disappointing outcome for victims and we will continue to offer them support at what is understandably, a very difficult time.”