Joseph Hopkins, aged 78, was charged with two counts of indecent assault and one count of buggery on a child which took place in the 1990s when he was employed as a social worker. He denied the charges but was found guilty and convicted at Stafford Crown Court in December 2020. The offences took place in his car.

Mr Hopkins was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 11 years and 6 months on 2 December 2020 and will be placed for life on the Sex Offenders Register.

However, this is not the first time that Mr Hopkins has being convicted of child abuse offences.

He was previously employed at Riverside children’s home, run by Staffordshire County Council, where he also abused children. After a police investigation into the home, called Operation Thor, a number of members of staff were charged and convicted of offences.  Mr Hopkins was one of them and was convicted in November 2000 of rape, indecent assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The offences were committed whilst he was employed as a social worker between 1981 and 1985.

Unfortunately it is a pattern that is all too common whereby an abuser will move to another job, or to other institutions, and continue to abuse children.

I am representing a victim of abuse by Mr Hopkins and the team at Switalskis have many years of experience in acting for clients bringing claims against individuals, care homes and other institutions.

If you would like to speak to one of our experienced team of solicitors for advice we can guarantee that you will be dealt with sensitively and with the utmost confidence.

If you would like to speak to Samantha Follows from our Child Abuse Compensation department  confidentially, call 0800 168 4700 or email samantha.follows@switalskis.com