Rapist given extensive unsupervised access to vulnerable disabled clients.

Charity Failed to Protect Clients Despite Knowing of Volunteer's Past Crimes

An inquiry has revealed that the leaders of a Southampton charity for the disabled were aware of a volunteer minibus driver's past sex crimes for four years before he raped a client.

Stephen Browne, who was given "routine" and "extensive unsupervised access" to vulnerable disabled clients, including providing personal care and allowing one client to stay overnight at his house, even went on to become the charity's vice-chairman.

The inquiry found that despite being informed by the police in 2001 of Browne's unspent previous conviction for indecent assault, the charity's secretary and chairman failed to take adequate steps to protect the charity and its clients.

The Charity Commission report stated that neither the secretary nor the chairman adequately monitored Browne's conduct. Other trustees of the Southampton and District Sports and Leisure Association for the Disabled (SADSALAD) were also criticized for failing to implement protective policies and measures, such as conducting Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks when they became available in 2002.

Browne went on to rape a severely disabled woman and indecently assault another in November 2005. He is currently serving at least ten years in prison after being jailed last year. He was also convicted for a series of rapes and sexual assaults committed in the 1970s.

The six-month Charity Commission inquiry found that the secretary, Roger Steels, shared the information from the police about Browne with the chairman, Debbie Richards, but she kept it secret. Mr. Steels told the inquiry that he believed the information was confidential.

Despite this knowledge, Browne, 50, was allowed to become a trustee and vice-chairman of the charity. A third trustee, who became suspicious of Browne's conduct towards disabled clients in 2005, reported him to the police but also failed to alert other trustees.

The Charity Commission launched an inquiry after being contacted by social services in December 2005 about Browne's past. The commission suspended Browne and the three trustees, who have since resigned. Browne was later disqualified. He declined to participate in the inquiry.

Mr. Steels admitted to accepting the inquiry's findings but insisted that both he and Mrs. Richards had been "hoodwinked" by Browne into believing he was a reformed character and deserved a second chance. Browne was working for other charities when he joined SADSALAD in 2000, according to Mr. Steels, and was a "nice fellow" who became the most popular volunteer. Mr. Steels added that SADSALAD had conducted checks on Browne, though they were inadequate.

Mr. Steels, who continues to volunteer for SADSALAD, said, "I don't feel uncomfortable working for the charity. They asked me to continue. This was a salutatory lesson we have all learnt from." He expressed regret for taking on Browne, stating, "I can't express the contempt I feel towards him."

Mrs. Richards declined to comment.

The commission noted that since its inquiry, SADSALAD has implemented new procedures to safeguard disabled clients and strengthened existing policies.