Lauren Creed
aged 5
Social Services and
police admitted a series of fatal errors
December 12,1998
BBC
Overworked care staff fear another tragedy
By Sally Pook
Telegraph
12 December 1998
SOCIAL services in Norfolk admitted yesterday they had failed in their duty to
protect Lauren Creed, the five-year-old child murdered by her mother's violent
boyfriend.
Other agencies involved with the child in the three months before her death
said they had made mistakes, too, and police admitted a series of fatal
errors.
Director of Norfolk social services, David Wright, said that the same mistakes
could be made again because of the immense number of domestic violence cases
his department had to deal with.
"We failed in our duty, and for that I am deeply sorry," he said. "This could
happen again because our workload now is even worse."
Graham Sate, 25, a merchant seaman, was jailed for life yesterday for the
murder of Lauren, with a recommendation that he serve at least 25 years.
Sate, who battered the little girl to death, had been out of prison for less
than a year, following a sentence for attempted murder, when he killed Lauren.
The child's mother, Sharon Creed, 25, was jailed for five years after
admitting two charges of cruelty, one for failing for 90 minutes to call an
ambulance to assist her dying daughter.
Following the sentencing at Norwich Crown Court, chief officers from Norfolk
social services and the area child protection committee, the civilan police
and the RAF police all admitted mistakes had been made after police and social
workers failed to act on signs that Lauren was at risk.
Norfolk constabulary was criticised after two officers called to deal with a
domestic incident at the child's home at RAF Coltishall, Norfolk, three months
before her death, failed to examine her although they were told she was
covered in bruises. They also failed to inform the probation service of Sate's
convictions for attempted murder and actual bodily harm. At the time Sate was
still on licence to Humberside probation service and could have been recalled
to prison.
Chief Constable of Norfolk police, Ken Williams, said: "We as a police force
may have fallen short in certain circumstances and procedures, but . . . at no
time did we have a full picture of the dangers Lauren faced."
A policeman also listened to a tape of Lauren, in which she detailed being
beaten by Sate, which had been made by a concerned neighbour.
Mr Williams said: "One of the officers listened to the tape and he will be
revisiting that moment time and again. I have looked into the eyes of the two
officers who went to the home of Graham Sate on July 7. They honestly believe
that they acted with integrity that night according to the circumstances."
Norfolk police have changed their procedures since Lauren's death and there is
now more rigorous highlighting of suspicious cases to social services.
A review of the case by the Norfolk Area Child Protection Committee made a
number of recommendations. These include plans for all agencies involved in
child welfare to establish better lines of communication and to work together.
Mr Justice Newman said yesterday that Sate was a man who did not hesitate to
use violence or lie to save himself.
"Lauren must have been in a state of silent terror while this horrendous,
sustained beating took place, for nobody heard screams," he said. "Finally by
a blow to her stomach while you had her on the ground, you kicked and punched
the life out of her. You could not even summon the humanity to call an
ambulance. For two hours, in an effort to save yourself, you chose to let her
battered figure die."
The judge told Creed, who sobbed throughout the hour and a half hearing at
Norwich Crown Court, that she had showed "not one ounce of compassion" to her
daughter and that she shared responsibility for the death.
"You had countless opportunities to release your daughter from the hellish
cruelty and risk she was exposed to," he said.
"You knew she was being subjected to violence and you deliberately chose for
your own selfish reasons to leave Lauren Creed at the hands of a man who you
knew because of his previous convictions was a man capable of violence."
Lauren Creed: A timeline of tragedy
BBC
How closely were social services watching the case of Lauren Creed?
The following chain of events is based on information from the Norfolk Area
Child Protection Committee (ACPC).
June 1996
Lauren and her mother move to RAF Colitshall, Norfolk.
December 1996:
Graham Sate is released from prison and remains on licence until 27 July 1997.
Sometime between his release and April 1997 he formed a relationship with
Creed.
7 July 1997
A domestic dispute occurred in the family home of Creed which was attended by
the RAF Police and the civilian police.
The ACPC says neighbours were concerned that Sate had assaulted Lauren and
showed the RAF police bruising on her body. The committee also says the
civilian police were told about a tape recording of Lauren made by neighbours.
8 July 1997
The ACPC information says that the RAF Police took no further action against
Sate as Creed did not want to go ahead with charges.
The police reported the events to the Police Family Protection Unit and
formally passed information to social services and education identifying Laren
as a child "at risk" but as a case with a low level of concern.
22 July 1997
Social services intake team are informed verbally of the protection concerns
regarding Lauren. Inquiries are initiated.
22 July - 14 August 1997
Norfolk Social Services make inquries with the Child Protection Register,
Health Visiting Service, and the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Family
Association (SSAFA) which spoke to to neighbours.
Information was also sought on the relevance of Sate's past offences.
14 August 1997
Creed consults an RAF doctor about Lauren's behaviour and her own relationship
with Sate.
15 August 1997
Creed revisits doctor who arranges for Lauren to have a paediatric examination
at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital that day. The appointment is missed and
Creed and Sate take Lauren to Grimsby.
16 August 1997
Lauren is admitted to Grimsby Hospital. Norfolk ACPC says no specialist
opinion was sought on child abuse and Lauren is discharged the next day.
18 August 1997Word of Lauren's admission to hospital is spread to Norfolk
health, the RAF doctor and social services. Senior hospital workers had
expressed concerns about bruising on Lauren's body.
20 August 1997
An inter-agency meeting is held regarding Lauren in Norfolk. A social worker,
the SSAFA, Family Protection Unit and RAF doctor are involved. Further
investigations are agreed.
1 September 1997
Creed and Lauren return to Coltishall. Two days later Creed is interviewed by
a social worker. She is reluctant for Sate to be interviewed saying she had no
personal concerns and she thought neighbours had encouraged Lauren to say bad
things about him.
15 September 1997
Social worker meets Creed again. A second inter-agency meeting is also held
involving two social workers, the SSAFA, Family Protection Unit and health
visitor. Further visits and inquiries are agreed.
16 September 1997
Social services contacts Humberside probation seeking more information about
Sate.
22 September 1997
Social worker meets with Creed and Lauren. Sate is working offshore. An
appointment is made to meet them all on 20 October.
22 September 1997 - October 20 1997
Laurens childminders are contacted and express no concerns.
October 14 1997
Sate is due back from working offshore.
October 20 1997Creed cancels the planned social worker appointment.
October 21 1997
Lauren dies.
