Doctor ‘would have attracted police interest over truth drug’

A DOCTOR at a psychiatric hospital would have faced police action over allegations a “truth drug” was used on children, dozens of whom were sexually abused, a report has found.

Child patients sent to Aston Hall Hospital in Derbyshire between the Fifties and Seventies have claimed they were taken to a secluded room, drugged and sexually abused by Kenneth Milner. Some were put in straitjackets.

Yesterday, Derbyshire police said in a report: “There would have been sufficient evidence to justify interviewing Dr Milner under caution in relation to a number of potential offences, namely rape, indecent assault, child cruelty and assault.”

So far 115 people have come forward to speak to the investigation team and police have recorded 65 crimes including physical and sexual abuse. Officers said 65 people are being treated as victims. Lawyers for 47 patients sent to the hospital in the Sixties and Seventies said the “horrific treatment” had “undoubtedly caused permanent, damaging effects”.

Victims claim they remember being injected with sodium amytal, a powerful sedative known as the “truth drug” which has been used to test if people are lying.

Stephen Edwards, from Bond Turner, the law firm, said: “The UK needs to ensure it has the clinical infrastructure to protect the next generation of young people and our efforts are focused on preventing this kind of gross negligence ever occurring again.

“We are committed to seeking the justice and compensation that our clients deserve and hope that today will encourage those who are yet to come forward to speak out.”

A slew of claims were made against Dr Milner, who was medical superintendent of Aston Hall. He died in 1976.

Other staff accused of physical abuse have either been eliminated from the inquiry, are also dead or are unable to be identified. A victim initially came forward to Suffolk Police in June 2011.