Calls to re-open Lewis abuse case over false allegations

ALAN MacDERMID September 25 2006

No further action is to be taken by the Crown Office following claims that a key witness in the Lewis child abuse scandal has admitted her allegations were false.
The witness, Angela Stretton, 39, admitted she made the allegations under pressure from police and social workers, eventually telling them what she thought they wanted to hear.
Fresh demands were made yesterday to re-open the case, which ended with no proceedings being taken against nine people who had been charged and appeared in court.
Northern Constabulary said it had received a copy of the letter and was making inquiries, but a spokeswoman for the Crown Office said no further action was planned.
A Crown Office spokeswoman said: "Extremely serious allegations were made in this difficult and complex case by a number of witnesses. It was necessary for such serious allegations, involving children under the age of 16, to be thoroughly investigated. The Crown has a duty to take action and investigate in such circumstances and it did so in a fair and professional manner.
"When the available evidence was the subject of detailed scrutiny before the Crown counsel, it was concluded the evidence did not meet the standards required for criminal prosecution."
Ms Stretton reportedly penned a written confession admitting she fabricated certain allegations. Some of the nine people who were charged with abusing three girls following Stretton's accusations were her own relatives.
The nine were charged over numerous alleged sex offences including claims of the rape of toddlers, sex orgies, witchcraft, animal sacrifices, blood drinking and devil worshipping.
But the extensive and serious charges against the nine were abandoned by crown counsel with little explanation. A subsequent investigation by the social work inspectorate concluded that the girls were sexually abused. However, it failed to indicate who was guilty or innocent, leaving a cloud of suspicion hanging over those who had been accused.
The claims centred on the crofting district of Ness in Lewis, but other incidences were said to occur in Lochs and Carloway. Properties in Point were also searched.
The claims of the rape of toddlers, which allegedly continued as the children grew older, widened into allegations of occult practices, satanic rituals, and orgies.
It resulted in raids, involving around 100 police officers, on homes belonging to Stretton's close relatives and others she implicated in Lewis, Leicestershire, West Yorkshire and Dorset.
Last night accused John Sellwood said: "The case should now be re-opened and our names cleared. We want to get our lives back on track."