Child abuse victim sues West Mercia Police after identity breach
A woman who was sexually abused as a child is suing a police force after an officer revealed her identity to a member of the public. Heidi Clutterbuck told West Mercia Police in the 1990s her brother, Jimmy Guthrie, had abused her from the ages of six to 10. As a survivor of sexual abuse, she has the legal right to lifelong anonymity but the force has now admitted an officer revealed her name to someone who went on to contact her."It should have been my choice to reveal I was a victim – they took that from me," Ms Clutterbuck said.
'I was petrified'
West Mercia Police said the force was unable to comment due to the ongoing legal proceedings. Ms Clutterbuck, aged 53 and of Worcestershire, was among a number of women who reported Mr Guthrie to separate police forces more than 30 years ago. No action was taken and their alleged abuser died in 2012. Two years later, Ms Clutterbuck and her family were receiving police protection due to threats against them when she began receiving messages from people who said they knew she had reported her brother and she was a victim. "I was petrified and scared for the safety of myself and my family who I believed were placed in danger because my name had been revealed," she told the BBC."We had CCTV cameras and a security alarm fitted and new locks put on our doors and windows."
West Mercia Police ended their investigation into her reported abuse in 2016, stating there was no prospect of a conviction following Mr Guthrie's death. At the time, the force denied breaking the law by revealing her identity, but Ms Clutterbuck was determined to keep fighting. The married mother of five said: "I felt robbed of the choice of whether I wanted to let people know that I was a victim and the choice of who to share that with. "To be denied that right was just appalling but I wouldn't have taken legal action if the force had apologised."In 2017, an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation said there was sufficient evidence for the case to be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service if Jimmy Guthrie had still been alive.
Ms Clutterbuck started legal action against West Mercia Police in 2018 and last month, after seven years, the force admitted "negligently breaching the anonymity of an alleged victim of child sexual abuse".Her case for damages is due to be heard in the High Court next year. In court papers seen by the BBC, West Mercia Police states her claim is diminished as she took part in the government's Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and has spoken out publicly.But Ms Clutterbuck said: "I now want to be seen and heard - I can use my voice and awful experiences for some good," she said."I will not listen to people who want to shame me and I feel I have no choice but to take legal action."
'Enshrined in legislation'
Her lawyer is Maria Mulla, who is also working with victims of the former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed. "The decision to disclose or not is a colossal one for survivors of sexual abuse and in particular child sexual abuse," she said. "West Mercia Police stole Heidi's lifetime right to absolute anonymity, a right that is enshrined in legislation."West Mercia Police said the force was unable to provide any more information as "this could prejudice a live complaint which is currently being reviewed".Ms Clutterbuck said she had spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on her legal case. "I would like some justice for their mistake because it was impactful for me and my family," she said."It's been a long journey which was so unnecessary."
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