SUSAN WILKES FROM BROWNHILLS AND WALSALL ESCAPES PRISON AFTER CHILD ABUSE CASE

In a case that shocked the local community, Susan Wilkes, a nurse from Brownhills near Walsall, was found guilty of multiple charges related to the ill treatment of children with mental disabilities. The incident dates back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the most serious offenses occurring between 1976 and 1981.

Wilkes, aged 30 at the time, held the position of superintendent nurse at a handicap centre in Walsall. Her role involved caring for vulnerable children with mental disabilities, a responsibility she ultimately failed to uphold. Following a private inquiry conducted by a barrister, Wilkes resigned from her position, which had been under scrutiny due to allegations of mistreatment.

During the court proceedings, Wilkes admitted to eight charges of ill treatment. These included disturbing acts such as forcing a young girl to drink salt and vinegar, making a girl stand for extended periods in the rain, pulling a boy’s hair, physically assaulting a girl by hitting her in the face and kicking her in the stomach, and forcing a boy into a red plastic play barrel. The court heard that these acts were committed over a span of several years, reflecting a pattern of neglect and abuse.

In total, ten charges were brought against Wilkes, but she denied two of them, which will now be left on file. The judge, Malcolm Ward, acknowledged that most of the admitted offenses took place around 1979. Despite the gravity of the charges, the judge decided against imposing a prison sentence, citing a sense of justice that would be offended by such a punishment.

Instead, Wilkes was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for a year, meaning she would not serve time unless she committed another offense within that period. The court's decision drew mixed reactions, with some feeling it was lenient given the nature of the crimes.

At the time of the trial, Wilkes was working as a district nurse in Walsall. She chose not to comment publicly after the case concluded. Her defense lawyer, Mr. Ian Morris, argued that Wilkes believed she was being made a scapegoat for broader issues related to the failure of the Megan Du Boisson home for the mentally handicapped, suggesting that her actions were not representative of her overall character or professional conduct.