Exclusive: Woman speaks of 'cruel and sadistic abuse' at care home

A victim of cruelty carried out by two former workers at a children’s care home in Coventry has waived her right to anonymity and spoken to ITV News Central.

She was a teenage resident of Wisteria Lodge in Coventry during the 1980s, and was physically and psychologically abused by the men, who were employed as outreach workers.

The woman fought a 16-year battle to have her allegations investigated, which led to several other victims eventually coming forward and two men being put on trial.

Last week Alan Todd, 70, from Stretton-under-Fosse in Warwickshire and his colleague Kenneth Owen, also 70, from Boston in Lincolnshire were jailed for causing cruelty to nine youngsters at the home.

Owen was jailed for four years and two months for five offences of cruelty. Todd was also convicted of five offences of cruelty and six charges of sexual abuse against some female residents. He was sentenced to eight years and eight months.

Wisteria Lodge, which was owned and operated by Coventry City Council, opened in 1970 and typically housed a dozen 12- to 16-year-old's with social problems.

It closed in 2012 and has since been demolished. Following last week’s sentencing of Todd and Owen, the Council has publicly apologised to former residents of the home.

Watch Andy Bevan's exclusive report: