A COUNCIL child services manager told a court she was aware of boys staying at the home of her brother, but had no concerns, as they seemed, “very happy”.

Lorraine Cairns, a manager in Sunderland City Council’s child services department for the last four years, was the final witness called by the defence, on the eleventh day of the trial of her brother, Stanley Simpson.

He is accused of abusing five boys and two girls at homes where he lived, at different times, in Pennywell, Sunderland, and in Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, in the 1980s and 90s.

Giving evidence, Mrs Cairns told Durham Crown Court she considered her younger brother, ‘Stan’, a former advice centre legal advisor, to be, “very kind.”

“He would give you his last penny. Just a lovely, genuine, caring person,” she said.

Questioned by defence barrister, Scott Smith, she said she was aware of children being allowed to stay at her brother’s home during the period the allegations arise from, and, asked if she had concern, Mrs Cairns said: “I didn’t think there was anything suspicious.

“They seemed very happy and there was no cause for concern.”

Given her current job, she said she would have, “a professional duty”, to report anything of concern.

“I would have a responsibility to report anything untoward. I never saw anything untoward.”

Responding to questions put by prosecuting barrister Sarah Mallett, in cross-examination, she said the rest of the family was now aware of the charges that her brother was facing, but denied, “pooling their recollections”, over aspects of evidence in the case.

Fifty-year-old Simpson, of Peniston Road, Pennywell, Sunderland, denies 34 charges, including six of rape.

Judge Simon Hickey is expected to begin his summing up of the trial evidence and the law in the case tomorrow (Wednesday February 10).