Care home will not share killer's name

McCarthy & Stone's Hagley development, which will be completed later this year, had been advertised as Miller Court, named after Sanderson Miller who designed grade-I listed Hagley Hall.

But it sparked memories of Victor Miller who, in 1988, kidnapped and murdered local paper-boy Stuart Gough, aged just 14.

The development of 44 one and two bedroom apartments has been renamed Sanderson Court.

It is 27 years since Stuart was kidnapped on his paper round and killed by warehouseman Miller.

Stuart had been a student at Haybridge High School and was snatched by Miller, of Penn Fields, on January 17, 1988. Stuart's body was found 50 miles from home in a remote wood near Ledbury, Herefordshire, two weeks later.

The discovery was made after Miller was arrested for threatening to kill an abattoir worker two days before Stuart disappeared. The killer led police to the body. He admitted murder and was sentenced to life.

Gene Shaw, who has lived in Hagley for 30 years, said receiving the advert for Miller Court had brought back bad memories.

She said: "Although we now come under Bromsgrove we are very much a village. We all care for each other.

"When they were searching for the boy you have never seen so many people turn out. I remember we were looking for his paper bag. It was horrible what that horrible man did."

Mrs Shaw's husband Gordon had been the chair of the local community association while Stuart's father Geoff had been the president.

Geoff Gough died in 2013 aged 82. He threw himself into community work in gratitude for the love and support of villagers in Hagley and in 2005 was given an MBE.

Mrs Shaw, 70, said she was delighted the name had been changed.

"When I saw the advert I was so upset," she explained. "It is fantastic news that McCarthy & Stone have decided to change the name.

"Everybody was out there when they heard the boy had gone missing. There were ladies bringing tea and coffee for everyone helping out. It was all so sad.

"It would have been very upsetting for Stuart's mother Jean who still lives in the village."

Jean Gough, aged 71, said she was not aware of the development but was pleased they had decided to rename it.

"Even now, he is supposed to be in prison for life but I still expect him to knock on the door.

"I am happy they have changed the name and I would like to thank whoever it was that got in touch with the developers."

Gill Sabin, midlands sales and marketing director for McCarthy & Stone, said: "At McCarthy and Stone we are committed to celebrating and supporting the local heritage and history surrounding our new developments.

"After careful consideration and research into the local area, we selected 'Miller Court' as the name of our latest Retirement Living development in Hagley, to pay tribute to Sanderson Miller, the designer and architect of the cherished local landmark, Hagley Hall.

"We have since been informed of an unconnected historic incident that took place in the locality, which shared links with the original name, and have therefore made the decision to rename the development 'Sanderson Court'. "We are pleased to unveil our new name, which has now been confirmed by Bromsgrove District Council and still reflects the rich culture and history of the the local area."