A BBC investigation has revealed 46 allegations of sexual abuse, neglect and assault made over four years against five care homes that are being closed by HC-One in Cambridgeshire.

The complaints include an allegation of rape at The Gables in Whittlesey in 2020 which was one of three homes embargoed by Cambridgeshire County Council before HC-One announced they would be closed in August this year.

HC-One and Cambridgeshire County Council highlighted the documented complaints were allegations and not crimes, adding none of them were acted on by police.

The council announced the cancellation of a £64 million block contract with HC-One in November 2022 due to care quality issues at the homes.

HC-One admitted “unacceptable mistakes” at The Elms care home during an inquest in April into the death of three residents.

The Elms was one of four care homes closed by HC-One due to staffing challenges in 2022.

A spokesperson for HC-One said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of residents and colleagues is of the utmost importance to us, and we take our responsibility to all of those in our care very seriously.

“We look after people with very complex needs, and therefore we follow best practice and record and report all events and potential events in our homes.

“We have stringent safeguarding processes in place for both our residents and colleagues, and we follow all due process to report these events to our external partners, including the police.

“We have conducted a thorough investigation into the alleged incidents in question, and based on our records, no further action was taken by the police or by our regulator, the CQC in respect of any of the alleged incidents.”

A spokesman for the council said: “These were allegations, not crimes, all of which were fully investigated by the police and on which no further action was taken – either by the police or the CQC.

“As such, allegations are not shared with either new residents or the safeguarding board.”