Police Probe Historic Sexual Abuse at Psychiatric Hospital

By Rom Preston-Ellis
Devon Live
March 6, 2018

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/police-probe-historic-sexual-abuse-1304501

How Moorhaven Hospital near Ivybridge looked

An investigation is taking place into allegations of historic sexual abuse at a former psychiatric hospital in Devon.

Police have asked people who were either employees or patients at Moorhaven Hospital near Ivybridge in 1976 to come forward.

It is alleged that a woman was raped in the grounds of the hospital during that year.

Detective Constable Josie Haines from Devon and Cornwall Police's sexual offence and domestic abuse investigation team, said: “We have been supporting a woman who has suffered in silence for many years, and we are turning to the public for their help in this matter.

“It is alleged that a woman was a victim of a rape on the grounds within Moorhaven Hospital in Ivybridge in 1976.

"The hospital closed in 1993 and has since been converted into residential houses and flats.

“We are wanting to speak to anyone who was a patient or worked at Moorhaven Hospital during 1976, as it could be that they have some information that could assist us with our enquiries.

“We appreciate that this was quite some time ago and we are doing all we can to help the victim.

“We would like to hear from anyone with any information; you may believe that it is insignificant but it could be the key piece of detail that can make all the difference to us in this investigation.”

Moorhaven was the Plymouth and South Devon area's psychiatric hospital from 1891, and used to house up to 700 patients and more than 400 staff.

It closed in 1993 and since then the imposing Victorian hospital and adjoining buildings have been refurbished to become a village of more than 100 homes.

If you worked or were a patient at Moorhaven Hospital in Ivybridge in 1976, email 101@dc.police.uk quoting crime reference CR/103377/17.