A KEIGHLEY councillor who revealed he was sexually abused as a child has said he was being cared for by Bradford Council Social Services when the crime happened.

Keighley town councillor Michael Westerman publicly spoke of his experience last month, (Jan) during a town council discussion of how to respond to sexual grooming of children in Keighley.

Explaining why this was a topic he felt so strongly about, he said he was sexually abused when he was 12.

Cllr Westerman is supporting calls for the district council to mount a public inquiry into sexual exploitation of children in Keighley and Bradford.

Responding last week to Bradford Council deputy leader Cllr Val Slater, who advised him to contact police and social services to get the "support and justice he deserved", he said it should be obvious that he had already done so.

He added: "While I thank Cllr Slater for her concern and sorrow, does she really think that I'd not by now have sought support and justice?

"My abuse took place in late 1974 and early 1975 when I was in the care of Social Services in the new Bradford Metropolitan District Council, and this has been reported to West Yorkshire Police.

"After many hours of recorded interviews, I was later told by a senior officer, 'it is not in the public interest' that this matter should be taken further.

"If my case was 'not in the public interest', the question I ask is how many others were deemed the same?

"This is something which could be uncovered by a public independent inquiry, at no cost to Bradford Council."

Cllr Westerman said it had been a difficult decision for him to contact police early last year to inform them of the abuse he suffered 42 years ago.

So it came as a major disappointment when police told him they could not pursue the case any further because officers could not identify the alleged perpetrator.

“I did feel what was the point of the police interviewing me," he said. “The police told me they’d reached a dead end.

“I feel let down really. Not just for myself but for everyone else who was cared for at that place.

“To come forward with your evidence takes a lot of doing. My experience would put me off going back to speak to the police again.

“But despite that, I’d still say to other people that if they've gone through it [sexual abuse] they should go to the police."

Cllr Slater responded: "I'm glad to know Cllr Westerman spoke about his abuse to the appropriate authorities at that time, it was brave of him to do so.

"Many victims of abuse find it difficult and often it's years later when they find the courage to do so.

"I'm sorry to hear that at the time it wasn't regarded as in the public interest to proceed. That's regrettable.

"We now have a team of specialist police and social workers who investigate what is termed historic cases. I'd encourage him to contact them to see if his case can be reopened.

"Child abuse is a vile crime. No child anywhere should have to suffer such horrific exploitation or abuse."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "We can confirm that Mr Westerman did make an allegation of sexual abuse which has been investigated by a specialist team who are dedicated to investigating non-recent offences of child abuse.

"With limited information regarding the names of the suspects and despite a comprehensive investigation, the police have been unable to identify these individuals to date.

"Unfortunately, in the absence of any further information coming to light, the case is unable to be progressed to the satisfaction of the victim."