GAIL STACK AND KENNETH MACKRETH: DERWENT HOUSE ABUSE SCANDALS IN LIVERPOOL

In a series of disturbing revelations from Liverpool, two former care professionals associated with Derwent House in Old Swan have been convicted of heinous crimes involving the abuse of vulnerable young girls. The first case involves Gail Stack, a 50-year-old former care worker, who was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of multiple sexual offenses committed during her tenure at the facility.

During her trial at Liverpool Crown Court, the jury, composed of four men and eight women, took less than an hour to reach a verdict. They convicted Stack of seven counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child, crimes that spanned from 1974 to 1978. These offenses took place while she was employed as a supervisor at Derwent House, which at the time served as an assessment center for children in need of social services.

Throughout the sentencing, Judge Ian Crompton expressed his outrage at the severity and nature of the crimes. Stack, who was present in court, vociferously proclaimed her innocence, repeatedly shouting that she was not guilty. As she was led away to the cells, her fury was evident as she turned to two of her victims sitting in the gallery and hurled verbal abuse at them. The judge highlighted the gravity of her misconduct, emphasizing that the assaults were particularly vicious, targeting young girls who were already in distressing circumstances. He described the victims as children who had been taken from their homes and placed in a children's home under the supposed care of social services, only to be betrayed by someone entrusted with their safety.

Judge Crompton further condemned the betrayal of trust, stating, “It is hard to imagine a more serious abuse of the trust placed in a social worker responsible for children of this kind.” He noted that the maximum penalty at the time for such offenses was two years, but he imposed three consecutive two-year sentences, reflecting the seriousness of each individual victim.

The victims, aged 12, 14, and 15 at the time of the abuse, described Stack as cold, forbidding, and cruel. Their testimonies painted a picture of a woman who exploited her position of authority to commit these acts. The prosecution, led by Mr. John McDermott, revealed that the crimes came to light as part of a broader police investigation into institutionalized child abuse in Merseyside.

One of the victims even claimed that another woman at Derwent House had been involved in three of the attacks, adding a layer of complexity to the case. Stack denied all allegations, claiming she did not understand why the victims had fabricated their stories. She also stated that she had been married for 13 years until 1983, had a partner since then, and insisted she was “definitely heterosexual.”

In a separate but related case, Kenneth MacKreth, a former police officer and manager at Derwent House, was convicted in August 2000 of a series of sexual offenses against teenage girls. At the age of 86, MacKreth was sentenced to five years in prison after a jury found him guilty of 33 counts of rape and sexual abuse, involving girls aged between 14 and 16, over a period of four years starting in 1972.

MacKreth had served as the superintendent at Derwent House in Derby Lane, Old Swan, for seven years. His role involved overseeing the care of some of Liverpool’s most vulnerable teenage girls, many of whom were troubled or in trouble, sent there for assessment before being transferred to other homes or foster families. The trial revealed disturbing details, including that some of the assaults occurred within a padded detention cell, where girls were reportedly locked up for days at a time. The victims, now in their early 40s, attended court to face their abuser and expressed relief and validation when the verdict was delivered.

The case was part of Merseyside police’s Operation Care, an extensive investigation into institutionalized child abuse. MacKreth had previously faced similar charges in 1977 but was acquitted at that time. His violent regime at Derwent House was vividly described by one victim, who recounted how he had knocked out a girl’s teeth and kept girls confined in the detention cell, which was padded on the walls and contained a low bed, for extended periods.

MacKreth’s criminal history ended with his death in 2006, but the scars left by his actions and those of others at Derwent House continue to resonate. The revelations of abuse at this Liverpool care home have cast a long shadow over the institution’s history, highlighting the betrayal of trust by those entrusted with the care of vulnerable children.

In a further development in 2008, it was reported that Gail Stack, after her release from prison, falsely claimed nearly £20,000 in benefits. Despite her conviction and imprisonment, she struggled to reintegrate into society and claimed she was innocent of the crimes. Her attempt to fraudulently obtain income support and job seekers’ allowance involved making false statements about her income, including failing to disclose a pension she received from her previous social work employment.

Stack, now 59 and residing on Wellington Road, Oxton, Birkenhead, was sentenced to a 26-week prison term, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. She was also placed under supervision and required to wear an electronic tag for three months. Her barrister, Mark Barlow, described her actions as an “oversight” and noted her ongoing struggles to cope with life after her incarceration. The court heard that she had admitted to making three false statements, and her case was seen as a reflection of her difficulty adjusting to her new circumstances after serving her sentence.

Throughout these proceedings, the overarching theme remains the profound breach of trust and the enduring impact on the victims. The cases of Gail Stack and Kenneth MacKreth serve as stark reminders of the dark history of abuse within Liverpool’s care institutions, and the ongoing efforts to seek justice for those affected.