A CRITICAL independent report into the sex abuse suffered by a teenager has highlighted a number of failings in child protection services.

The teenager was repeatedly raped by a serial sex attacker despite being on the Child Protection Register for more than three years.

And the Serious Case Review, published by the Redcar and Cleveland Safeguarding Children Board, identified a number of failings by a range of organisations including the police, probation service and two local authorities.

It also showed the man at the centre of the review had been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment over a 35-year period for serious sexual offences.

Independent Local Safeguarding Children Board chairman Patti Summerfield said: “The board accepts the findings of the report and wants to examine procedures in sex abuse, which is why we have been concentrating on this particular area.

“We acknowledge that it is a very difficult area, but the board does accept that all staff working with such incidents have been trained to the highest possible standards.

“Some sex offenders are very devious people – they have to be to commit the offences that they do. Not only do they manipulate children but they can manipulate professional agencies and that is why it is important that a risk assessment involving sex offenders is carried out to the highest standard.”

The report made 15 recommendations including ensuring that the probation service passes on all relevant information to children’s services; better training for people dealing with domestic abuse and its potential links to child abuse; and improved risk assessment of known offenders in households with children.

Ms Summerfield added: “The agencies involved in this case did not do enough to prevent this and we are deeply sorry. The purpose of the review was to establish where improvements need to made.

“We fully support all of the recommendations made in the report and these have all either been addressed immediately or will be as part of robust action plans.

“We are committed to respecting the family’s request for privacy and we are ensuring that support continues to be offered to the victim and her family.”