In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Linda Brunning, then 66, of Sowerby Bridge, Calderdale, was found guilty of multiple counts of historic sexual abuse at a children’s home. On Monday, 23 February 2026, the defendant appeared at Bradford Crown Court where she was convicted of one count of indecent assault on a male, two counts of aiding and abetting indecent assault, and two counts of aiding and abetting buggery. The court reported that the crimes were part of a “regime of fear and violence” at Skircoat Lodge Children’s Home in Halifax, West Yorkshire, where Brunning worked as the assistant principal between 1978 and 1994.
The investigation established that Skircoat Lodge was intended as a place of protection for vulnerable children aged four to 16. West Yorkshire Police reported that Brunning and the home’s manager, Malcolm Phillips, exploited their positions of power over two decades. The prosecution reported that a meticulous investigation, which launched in 2018, involved reviewing over 3,500 documents and speaking to more than 1,100 individuals to uncover the systematic physical and sexual abuse perpetrated at the home in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that the pair created a culture where no one dared to speak out, allowing the “abhorrent” crimes to go undetected for years. Bradford Crown Court heard how victims, who were placed in the home for their own safety under care orders, were instead subjected to sexual offences and violence. The prosecution reported that while staff concerns in 1994 led to Brunning being moved and Phillips suspended, it was the bravery of survivors coming forward after a 1998 investigation that finally brought the full scale of the Halifax, West Yorkshire, abuse to light.
The judge noted that Brunning was at the centre of a systematic failure to protect children. For her actions in Halifax and Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, she was told that the convictions reflect the gravity of aiding and abetting the most serious sexual violations. The judge noted that the trial, which focused on six specific survivors, proved that the assistant principal was complicit in the “regime of fear” that defined life for many at Skircoat Lodge during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.
Sentencing and Legal Orders
For her crimes in England, Linda Brunning was handed:
- Judicial Oversight: Found guilty at Bradford Crown Court on 23 February 2026.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated.
- Criminal Record: Convicted of five charges including indecent assault and aiding and abetting buggery.
- Location of Offence: Skircoat Lodge Children’s Home, Halifax, West Yorkshire.
- Residence: Sowerby Bridge, Calderdale.
Malcolm Phillips, then 93, of Tyseley, Birmingham, was also found to have committed the acts in a trial of facts. The court reported that because Phillips was deemed unfit to stand trial, there could be no formal verdict of guilty or a prison sentence. However, the judge is still to make orders in respect of the former manager to manage the findings of fact regarding the indecent assaults and buggery committed in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Brunning is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by West Yorkshire Police and the National Probation Service. Due to the “systematic and institutional” nature of her offending in Halifax, West Yorkshire, her residence in Sowerby Bridge, Calderdale, is subject to oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Brunning must comply with notification requirements regarding her identity and residence. Authorities state that her role in the exploitation of children in the care system necessitates monitoring of her conduct and any associations with vulnerable people. Any breach of her registration conditions or further misconduct in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for a custodial sentence.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.