Child Protection Concern - Dyke House, Herefordshire

[lou]

I received this email today highlighting a convicted sex offender who is still offering his premises to young people.



How he can get away with this I do not now, but I thought I'd share the information on here and make everyone aware of the issue.



Urgent child protection concern

It has come to our attention that Dyke House Residential Centre
Bromsberrow Heath near Ledbury Herefordshire is still attracting youth
groups to the premises. The owner of the centre Victor Steynor is a
registered sex offender convicted in July 2007. It is strongly
recommended that member organisations read the attached press link
before making a decision to use this centre. For further information
please contact NCVYS Safeguarding Officer Chris Brewster
chris@ncvys.org.uk

http://archive.herefordtimes.com/2007/7/26/87137.html





Lou

[Mark R]

Unpleasant.

Is this centre/individual anyhting to do with paddlesport? If not, I think this'll have to be removed.

Cheers,

[Liam Kirkham]

I don't know if it has anything to do with paddlesports, but this is my opinion.

Which has no real weight here, but more asking you to re consider Mark.

I believe that there are alot of instructors/teachers/outdoor enthusiasts that use this website that will find this infomation extremely important and relative.

If this centre is still being used then as many people as possible need to be aware of the situation and circumstances.

[lou]

Mark,

I received the email from Lancashire Council Voluntary Youth Services as my canoe club is a voluntary youth organisation.

The aforementioned centre has been, and still is used by voluntary groups of young people (youth groups, cubs, scouts, brownies, guides etc.)

I am not aware of any specific paddling groups using it, but many youth groups such as cubs, scouts etc. do paddle, so there is always a chance it may affect some recreational paddlers. I also know of many paddlers who run youth groups, scouts/guides, D of E etc., and I thought they should be made aware of this situation.

Also, as a parent of kids who do lots of outdoor stuff, I would rather be aware of this than be ignorant. I thought that if only one person actually found this to be useful, then it was worth posting.

However, if you think this post is inappropriate and should be removed, then please remove it.

Lou

[Mark R]

Okay, it stays.

[the_usual]

I think its a bit far fetched to say this is paddling related.

I actually stayed here some years ago being from Ledbury itself. My stay was pleasant and the owners were very accomodating.

I have no idea whether the owners have changed since then, but still think that this is an issue that has no business on these forums... but is more suited for the convictions of a local paper...

[Chas C]

This has every right to be here on this forum.

There are a large number of paddlers who coach and help youngsters and youth groups and this information is helpful.

Although I'd hope that the processes in place to screen "out of area" sleeping locations would pick this up.

[Liam Kirkham]

but still think that this is an issue that has no business on these forums... but is more suited for the convictions of a local paper...

Do you not think that as many people as possible should be made aware of this, including possible youth groups that may be planning a trip there?

As Lou said if one person finds this useful or relative then it has a place here.

The simple fact is I do not want youths to visit and stay in the company/centre of a registered sex offender.

In fact I am gobsmacked he has managed to retain his position.

[TheKrikkitWars]

Well I saw it and forwarded it to a couple of people it may be relevant to and who wouldn't have come across it other wise... the thread did its job.

[the_usual]

fair enough, and don't get me wrong, I'm not going to say people don't have a right to know, or that the crime was in any way explainable.

Do you not think that as many people as possible should be made aware of this

They are - just google Dyke House, I'd expect anyone who would be prospectively staying there to at least research it.

I'm not going to start vouching for character or anything, because I obviously don't know the guy, and despite the severity of the crime, I'm led to believe he has been named and shamed in the area.

I'm also not going to start saying what constitutes a 'suitable' punishment, or whether people can change since 1983...

I'll emphasise the obvious - that I wouldn't ever want anything similar to happen to anyone, and the thought of it happening to our own kids is pretty sickening.

But - I still think it has nothing to do paddlesport, its already in the public domain. Because youngsters stay there doesn't infer that there will be kayaking or canoeing there. It doesn't even have a lake...

edited for shameful spelling errors

[Keg133]

All I can add is that I would not risk my daughter using thsi place, well done for mentioning it.

[Jules]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/7178650.stm

Jules

[Adrian Cooper]

In fact I am gobsmacked he has managed to retain his position.

I am avoiding the temptation to add a political comment!

[StoneWeasel]

In fact I am gobsmacked he has managed to retain his position.

I am avoiding the temptation to add a political comment!

Far more grown up than me, I have been restraining myself from writing something far more crude and base, to be honest I am impressed at my self control.

Denzil

[justkissmyfrog]

Hi, I'd just like to post that I WAS a young person who went every summer to Dyke house to attend a youth camp that was conducted on the premises. In all my years of going there absolutely nothing of this nature happened. The man in question was never seen by my friends nor I during he totality of our stays there, and I believe myself that he was actually rarely on the premises at all. I would ask the people who have posted here, while I give them full license to tread of the side of caution should regulations intervene, please refrain from the pretence of any kind of character analysis on a person they do no know.
While I cannot claim to know the man myself (having been on his property so often, I think this can only be a testimony to the lack of danger there of) I CAN, unlike many who seem to have posted on this forum, claim to have read the material, news coverage and facts around this matter. It happened 25 years ago, the 'sexual assault' involved a 'touch' under the blouse - the nature of which seems ambiguous - IF allegations are even true at this point, as I find it stage indeed that this matter comes to light 25 years after its passing. The judge himself ruled that he would make 'no restriction on working with children.'
I would ask that you look at the facts for yourself, remember as you know how easy it is for anyone to get on the sex offender's register in this kind of age and consider the option of asking, for parents peace of mind if needs be, that he be off the premises for the duration of your visit.
Dyke House is one of the most idyllic places in Britain, please do not let the press ruin that.