THE SUFFERING of a sexually abused girl was made worse by Waltham Forest Council’s refusal to help her, the local government ombudsman has ruled.

The girl, whose name has been withheld for legal reasons, was raped while on holiday aged 13, sexually abused by a neighbour and described as being extremely troubled, depressed and suicidal.

But her repeated pleas for help from the council between 2004 and 2008 were ignored, Tony Redmond has found.

The girl also had to give three days of evidence at the trial of her abuser without support from her family or social services.

Mr Redmond concluded that although the council’s response to initial contact with the girl was appropriate, subsequent assessments of her needs by six different social workers were inadequate.

The inquiry concluded that the council failed to take proper account of her wishes and feelings and took other information at face value.

Mr Redmond said the council failed in its duty to work with other agencies involved with the girl and although she was eventually assessed as being a child in need, this should have been done earlier.

He added: “The Council was not directly responsible for the abuse she suffered at the hands of others. However, I have no doubt that her suffering was exacerbated by the Council’s failure to assess her properly and provide support to her.”

The girl said the main cause of her distress was that the council has refused to accept its responsibility for its mistakes after she made a formal complaint about her treatment.

The council was found guilty of maladministration causing injustice and ordered to apologise to her and pay £7,000 compensation.

The authority was also ordered to review the way it handles assessments of children in need and complaints.

“Rather than providing support to her, it contributed to ruining a large part of her teenage years,” the report states.

Cllr Liaquat Ali, cabinet member for children and young people services, said: “The girl did not receive the standard of service she deserved and the ombudsman has quite rightly upheld her complaint. The council owes her an apology and I make that apology on behalf of the council unreservedly.

“Waltham Forest Council, particularly our social workers, have a huge responsibility as guardians of some of the most vulnerable people in the borough. Ensuring their welfare is a responsibility that we all take extremely seriously.

“As a service provider and as a local authority, Waltham Forest has made real improvements in the five years since the girl first contacted us, but complacency is not, and cannot, be a part of our business.

“I have discussed the ombudsman’s findings with staff and am confident the report's recommendations will be put into place.”