Home axed over rapist neighbour

Cliff James said the council had changed its policy

A project to build a new children's home in Suffolk has been abandoned after it emerged a convicted rapist lives next door.

Suffolk County Council had spent almost £500,000 on buying and renovating the home near Bury St Edmunds.

The information only came to light when the man, who has served his sentence, contacted police.

The county council said it would formally consult with police on future projects.

'Gather intelligence'

It said it carried out checks on the home but not on who lived nearby and has since changed its procedure.

Cliff James, head of child protection at Suffolk County Council, said: "I think it is an important lesson that we've learned around this issue.

"With any further development, whatever it be, we will formally consult with the police and other partner agencies so that we gather all the intelligence available to avoid a similar situation happening in future."

It is understood the man is a former consultant psychiatrist convicted of two rapes and 10 assaults on female patients over a 14-year period.

The council has yet to decide what to do with the home.