Victims who suffered horrific physical and sexual abuse at a children’s home are to sue Kent Police, it is has been reported.

Survivors of the Sandyridge home in Greatstone, which operated for almost 30 years, have told Sky News they believe the force failed in its investigation of Denis and Anne May, who ran the home.

Victims reported their abuse at the hands of the Mays to authorities and the couple were arrested in 1996. However no charges were ever brought, and the pair later died without facing justice.

The victims of the abuse scandal, many of whom were from London, allege they were effectively trafficked by the authorities and put into the hands of the Mays, who operated the Sandyridge and Costa Villa children's homes in Kent.

Now 52 years old, Amanda is one of the victims who has spoken of her suffering at the hands of the Mays.

She was just a seven-year-old child when she and her two siblings were sent to Sandyridge in 1979.

They had all previously been housed at the notorious Shirley Oaks home in Lambeth, itself at the centre of a child abuse scandal. The Kent homes operated by the Mays were sent dozens of children by London councils.

Speaking to Sky News, Amanda said: “The physical and sexual abuse was on a daily basis.

"When you've gone through two children's homes already, where you've been systematically abused, it becomes quite normal."

Victims who suffered at the hands of Denis and Anne May have recounted how they were raped and molested, while also being subjected to other violent and degrading treatment while at the home.

Kent Police carried out what it describes as a “comprehensive and detailed” investigation into reports of abuse at Sandyridge in 1995.

However in October 1996 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided no charges could be brought in the case as there was deemed to be no realistic prospect of conviction, in part because of a lack of corroborative evidence.

A further investigation was carried out between 2017 and 2022, but again the CPS decided no charges could be brought.

Denis May, who was a school governor and chairman of the local branch of the Folkestone and Hythe Conservative Association, died in 2019. Anne had died in 2006.

Dr Raymond Stevenson, from the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association, told Sky News the survivors will not give up their fight for justice.

Sky News reports that human rights lawyer Imran Khan is set to sue Kent Police on behalf of the victims from Sandyridge. But to date the force has not received a legal claim in relation to the matter.

"Denis and Anne are dead but there's one other person who was a perpetrator, in Sandyridge, who is still alive,” Dr Stevenson said.

He also says they have questions about the police’s investigation as “it feels like there is something which hasn't come to light”.

Speaking to KentOnline this morning, Dr Stevenson added: “We’ve interviewed and taken statements from hundreds of people and the impact is the same.

“Some people bury it but it affects their life still. Some people still live it every day - hence the reason they consume drugs, to try to nullify the effects of the abuse.

“Some people are angry - forever angry - that means they go on to damage the wider community, So the psychological damage affects everyone.”

A spokesman for Kent Police said: “Between 2017 and 2022, Kent Police carried out a full and exceptionally thorough investigation into reports of abuse at a children's home in Greatstone between 1978 and 1996.

"The investigation was long and complex, involving meticulous analysis of evidence including multiple victim statements, witness accounts and key documentation relating to the period of time in question by diligent and dedicated police investigators.

“Throughout the process, detectives communicated regularly with victims to offer support and to update them as the case progressed.

"As part of their enquiries, officers revisited a comprehensive and detailed 1995 investigation into similar reports of offences at the home.

"Officers continued their work on this highly complex and challenging investigation – including regular liaison with CPS lawyers to ensure no stone was left unturned.

“However, on July 25, 2022, the CPS gave its final decision that due to fundamental weaknesses in the evidence presented to, and uncovered by Kent Police there was not a reasonable prospect of conviction and the case did not proceed to charge.

"Officers kept all witnesses fully updated and informed as to the progress of the investigation, and about the rationale behind the case not progressing to trial."

To date, Kent Police has received no formal challenge to the conduct of the investigation or its outcome.