'Abused' woman's fight over foster care

A woman who alleges she suffered more than a decade of sexual abuse at the hands of her foster father will bring a High Court action against council leaders.

The woman, now in her early twenties, was taken into care as a toddler and placed with the family of a man who was later convicted of 34 counts of sexual abuse and jailed for 15 years.

Miss H, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is seeking a judicial review over the delays and "ongoing failure" by Newcastle City Council to comply with complaints relating to her childhood ordeal.

Mr Justice Richards, sitting in London, has given permission for the challenge to go ahead and said unless the matter can be settled earlier through mediation it should be heard as a matter of urgency.

Lawyers for Miss H - and three other people who also allege they suffered abuse with the same foster family - are about to launch damages claims against the council.

Solicitor Judith Lloyd said: "About 30 different children went through this placement.

"But a lot have got to the stage where they want to put the past behind them."