Nursery World - Lost innocence

Two nursery nurses accused of child abuse have won the legal fight to clear their names, but the cost is still being paid by children and society, argues Professor Frank Furedi With their reputations restored, Dawn Reed and Christopher Lillie can finally hope to get on with their lives. Since early 1993, these two nursery workers had been forced into a nightmarish existence. Lillie was accused of abusing the children in his care and Reed of being party to the abuse, which included filming them. It was alleged that both abused children for their own gratification and for the production of pornographic material (see News, page 4-5).

With their reputations restored, Dawn Reed and Christopher Lillie can finally hope to get on with their lives. Since early 1993, these two nursery workers had been forced into a nightmarish existence. Lillie was accused of abusing the children in his care and Reed of being party to the abuse, which included filming them. It was alleged that both abused children for their own gratification and for the production of pornographic material (see News, page 4-5).

Fired from their jobs for gross misconduct, they were charged with a variety of sexual offences. While he was in prison on remand, Lillie was assaulted and had his nose broken. In the end the prosecution's case collapsed and the two were acquitted by Newcastle Crown Court in 1994.

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