Ofsted has won its first successful prosecution of an illegal children's home provider.

Following a criminal investigation by Ofsted, Catalyst Care Limited has become the first unregistered children’s home provider to be successfully prosecuted.

Children's homes in England must register with Ofsted and carrying on or managing a home without registration is a criminal offence. Children's homes that are not registered do not have independent and regulatory oversight and there are no guaranteed checks on staff or living conditions.

Ofsted warned the company directors several times that they were breaking the law, but they continued to operate contrary to the legal requirements for registration. During this time, the homes received over £1.7 million in payments from placing authorities.

Catalyst Care Limited, and its directors, Davidson Lynch-Shyllon and Miriam Ekathor, pleaded guilty to all charges at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on 9 March 2026. On 4 August 2026, they were fined a total of £92,400 for operating three unregistered homes in Kent between October 2022 and April 2025, providing accommodation for nine children. They were also ordered to pay victim surcharges totalling £2,960 and costs of £17,250.

The pair were also disqualified from carrying on and/or managing or having a financial interest in a children’s home.
 

His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver said: "It is heartbreaking that so many vulnerable children are placed in unregistered children’s homes where we have no assurance that they are safe or receiving the care they need and deserve.

"This outcome marks an important milestone in our efforts to tackle illegal children’s homes and sends a clear message that operating outside the law will have consequences. We are determined to make increased use of prosecutions to tackle the offenders running these settings. We are currently consulting on proposals to downgrade local authorities who commission these illegal homes."

Children and Families Minister, Josh MacAlister, said: "This prosecution is a welcome start to our wider crackdown on illegal children’s homes, and we have given Ofsted new powers to issue fines under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.

"Vulnerable children deserve to be safe and properly cared for, and I want to see more action of this kind. This case should send a clear signal to anyone running an illegal children’s home: the law will catch up with you and you will face consequences."