Jimmy Savile: Paedophile abused at least 22 'emotionally disturbed' girls at Duncroft School in Surrey

Jimmy Savile sexually abused 22 pupils and one visitor at Duncroft School in Surrey in locations including his car, the school's kitchen and the principal's office.

A report by Surrey Police found the paedophile committed at least 46 offences at the school, which was for girls 14-16 years old who were "emotionally disturbed", between January 1974 and 1979.

Savile inappropriately touched girls, kissed them and forced masturbation and would freely roam the school, which was run by MIND and Barnado's, and stay overnight in his camper van or in staff quarters.

The former BBC presenter, who died in 2011 and is considered Britain's most prolific sex offender.,l

"Potential for staff to have known"

Offences took place in a dining room, a corridor outside the principal's office as well as at the school's entrance.

During Operation Outreach - an investigation into offences at Duncroft - Surrey Police established there was "the potential for staff to have known" abuse was occurring.

However, the Crown Prosecution Service last year traced remaining staff and decided there was not enough evidence for a conviction.

Barnardo's said it was "shocked" and "saddened" by the revelations.

"We know that Jimmy Savile visited Duncroft on two or three occasions during the three years Barnardo's managed the school. Six former pupils told the investigation that they were sexually assaulted by Savile over this period.

"We are shocked and saddened by what the investigation has found, however, there is no evidence that any staff knew about the abuse at the time. We are sorry that the standards of social work practice at the time have led to some people feeling they were let down by the care system at Duncroft."

MIND said in a starement that it was "appalled" by the abuses and are particularly concerned that some appear to have taken place while the National Association for Mental Health was involved with the school.

"We take this situation very seriously and we remain concerned for everyone affected by Savile's actions," it said.

Duncroft

Established in 1949 in Staines, Surrey, Duncroft first opened to 24 girl pupils under the administration of the National Association for Mental Health (NAMH, later called MIND).

It was a "pioneer experiment" designed to take in girls of above average intelligence who were "emotionally disturbed".

It comprised of an education unit and a hostel and comprised of a "padded room" that eventually became obsolete as staff struggled to put girls inside it.

In 1973 Duncroft became an assisted community home, with MIND (formally NAMH, rebranded as MIND from around 1972) providing eight members of the management and the London Borough of Hounslow four.

Managers came from diverse backgrounds, including members of community health boards, a bank manager, a Methodist minister and a probation officer.

A school report later claimed the NAMH "lost interest" and MIND transferred its management to Barnardo's on 1 October, 1976, who remained in charge until 1979, when it temporarily stepped away from running the school.