KHX v Isle of Wight Council

Facts

KHX, born in June 1974, was received into the care of the Isle of Wight Council in 1976 and, from March 1984 when he was nine, was placed at Richmond Row Children's Home at Brading, a home owned and managed by the Council, where he remained until early 1990. He alleged that during that placement he was physically abused by Michael Bucket, a residential care worker employed there throughout his placement, and sexually abused by Lorraine Moorse, a residential care worker employed at the home between 1986 and 1990. The physical abuse was said to include regular beatings and three specific episodes — a scalding incident in a bathroom, an altercation on a trip to Sheffield and a camping trip; the sexual abuse was said to comprise masturbation in the bath, in his bedroom, in a car and in a train toilet. He reported both sets of allegations to police in 1998 while in prison; Ms Moorse was interviewed under caution in January 1999 and no further action was taken, and a further report in 2021 met the same outcome. Proceedings were issued on 8 October 2024, the Council admitting vicarious liability if the abuse were proved, denying the allegations and relying on limitation as to the physical abuse. Mr Bucket died on 14 December 2025.