Caldicott School: Child Sexual Abusers and Timeline

Pupils at Caldicott School, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire suffered child sexual abuse over a number of years and a number of abusers. It is now a charity [4], as are many “public” schools.  It is not known what the status of the school was when child sexual abuse offences were being committed by its teachers and covered up by the school.

Known abusers so far were

• Peter Roland Wright, former Caldicott pupil [23], was finally charged and convicted in 2014. Previous attempts to indict him failed in 2003 due a Judge deciding it was too great a the length of time since offences and the defendants health. A stay on that indictment meant he only faced charges from new victims who came forward. He was sentenced to 8 years. He was tried with offences from 1964-1970 [3]. Victims were mainly 11-13 years old [3]. He was at the school from 1952 -1993, the last 25 years as Headmaster. Wright, and when Headmaster covered up Marton Carsons abuse [1] See also Court Appeal Roland Peter Wright 5 August 2014 Court of Appeal  [3] Peter Wright still lived at a cottage overlooking the school after he retired, before his recent vacation in prison.
•                                          Peter Roland Wright – Serial Child Abuser
• Hugh Edward Henry admitted 13 counts [3] including two counts of incitement to gross indecency and eleven counts of indecent assault [9] [12]. He is thought to have been at Caldicott between 1958-1963  and offences on one boy were from 1962-63 [12]. He committed some of his offences at his bedsit and on a school skiing trip with Peter Wright. He was also charged with offences at Gayhurst School, Gerrards Cross. Little else is known of his offending, where else he worked and any other possible offences. He killed himself by walking in front of a train before sentencing. [12]
• John Addrison, another former Caldicott pupil [34], was charged in 2012 with offences at Caldicott between Jan and July 1978 and at Moor Park School, Ludlow between 1985 and 1988 and sentenced to roughly 5 years.  It is also not clear what he did straight after leaving Caldicott; when he started at Moor Park school or what he did after being dismissed from Moor Park School in 1988, although he was teaching in 2010 [2]. It is not known if he committed further offences after 1988. Also see Government UK National College for Teaching and Leadership  Mr John Addrison: Professional Conduct Panel outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education [2] pdf download, and reproduced in Appendix 1 below
• Martin Carson, a science teacher, was found to be committing child sexual abuse offences at Caldicot in 1973, but it was covered up by the school and he received just a 5 year ban from teaching [6]. Carson was charged with two charges of buggery, eight charges of indecent assault and one count of possessing indecent photographs. He pleaded guilty in 2003 and was sentenced to just 2 years in prison. Details are lacking of offences, when employed at Caldicott. Carson resumed his career in 1980 at prep school in Eastbourne where he was appointed Head of Pastoral care [38] and he taught at Harrodian School, Bath, at the time of the video Chosen in 2008. It is not known if the committed further offences at these school or elsewhere [6]. 
  
• David Keith Geddes, another teacher, was acquitted of offences between 1975-77 after a retrial [14] [28]
• George Hill Peter Wrights deputy in the 1970s killed himself which probably saved him from facing charges [33]

There is a good summary of legal outcomes on the Mandate Now website [28] The Caldicott Trials and Outcomes [28] where there is also a video interview of Tom Perry with Jon Snow.

The number of victims on which they were convicted is very low about 25 to 30. There are likely to be many more victims of these abusers at Caldicott and other schools, who have valuable information.

2008 Channel 4 Real Stories Chosen [1]

The powerful film Chosen won a Bafta was made by True Vision and can also be viewed on their website [29]. It largely features three survivors of abuse at Caldicott.

On the Real Stories website [29] there is also more information, links to Andrew Norfolk’s valuable press articles on Caldicott and an interview with Tom Perry by Jon Snow [29].

My respect goes to the courageous survivor whistleblowers Tom Perry, Alistair Rolfe and Mark Paige. I have only watched the moving video Chosen twice. I may have missed some useful information, please feel free to point it out.

Having watched and been inspired into action by the film, author Simon Astaire wrote his book Mr Coles to bring attention to the abuse and preparatory boarding schools [25]

A follow video was planned, but I am not sure if it has been released. One of the film whistleblowers Mark Paige, has sadly died of cancer since the original film and before he saw justice done. See Channel 4 short video [29] which is well worth viewing.

Summary

Taking all the evidence to hand into account about Caldicott, there appears to be a pattern of systemic child sexual abuse 0ver 50 years by at least 6 perpetrators.

There is also a pattern of systemic cover up over at least 40 years at Caldicott.

1963 cover up 1 of Hugh Henry’s child sexual abuse [33] He left the school and later the Education officials were informed but Police were not told. He was not convicted for another 50 years, leaving him free to abuse and ruin lives all that time.

1973 cover up 2 of Martin Carson’s child sexual abuse [6] [33] He was dismissed after the matron and a teacher blew the whistle on Carson and he admitted to being a serial child abuser. Wright as Headmaster orchestrated the cover up. The Ministry was informed and he was banned from teaching for 5 years but worked for at least 2 more schools and leaving him free to abuse and ruin lives for another 30 years before being convicted but receiving only 3 years.

2000’s early, cover up 3 of sexual abuse of a boy. The teacher concerned was suspended and did not return. It is alleged that the headmaster Simon Doggart and the now Lord Justice Scott Baker, then a Chairman of the Board of Governors at the school did not follow the schools correct procedures and failed to report the abuse to police or social services. ie. covered up the abuse [8] The DfEE, (Education Department equivalent) who are responsible for warning other employers however was informed.

Possible Abuse Networks

Hugh Henry also worked at Gayhurst School, Gerrards Cross where he also abused [31]

Addrison also worked at Moor School Ludlow where he also abused [2]

Carson resumed his career in 1980 at a Prep school in Eastbourne where he was appointed Head of Pastoral Care [38] He also worked at Harrodian School, Bath. It is not known whether he abused at these schools. He also had a friend who abused on a school trip to Arran [1].

Both Addrison and Geddes worked at the same school in Kenya [34] No information is available on which school it was or whether abuse was committed.

Known abusers need to be checked out to find out where else they worked and what abuse they perpetrated at these other schools and which other child abusers they were connected to.

Both Wright and Addrison were ex pupils of Caldicott. Did they develop their aberrant behaviour whilst pupils at Caldicott. Abuse had been going on since the 1940’s under headmaster Shewell Cooper [45]. Was Addrison even abused as a pupil by Peter Wright?

Judicial Cover up?

The person who only passed a 2 year prison sentence on Carson for offences which carried a maximum of life imprisonment was Judge Roger Connor. Judge Connor was the same man that that later blocked Peter Wrights prosecution [33]. This judgement not only prevented Wright being prosecuted on those charges but was used as precedent for 8 years as the reason for refusal of the CPS to bring more charges in other cases [36]

Connor has been criticised for having a conflict of interest in that he knew the then Chairman of Governors of Caldicott, the man who is now Lord Chief Justice Scott [38] They live near each other in Bucks and both play golf at nearby golf clubs. Connor, interestingly is now Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire [38]

Connor ruled that the alleged acts happened so long ago that the accused would not be able to defend himself. Wright was described by the judge as a “retired headmaster of good character”. Judge Connor said the long delay in bringing the case to court had “clearly made it significantly more difficult” for Wright to put forward his defence. Wright’s lawyers had claimed that his capacity to remember detail was “diminished by his advancing age and the deteriorating state of his health – he suffered a heart attack six years ago”.

Also, there was “reason to believe the evidence of the complainants, or at least some, has been contaminated as a result of the manner in which the case has been investigated and the leading part played by Mr Perry”. The judge went on: “Human memory is a frail thing. This case depends almost entirely upon the memory of individuals about events many years ago.” He was therefore not convinced that “any useful purpose would be served” by allowing the case to go before a jury. [23]

After this criticism John Clare, the author says “At this point I should declare an interest. I taught at Caldicott from January to July 1963 and knew Wright” [23]

If a lawyer could explain why Judge Cutts could not overturn Judge Connors stay, I would be grateful [33]

Caldicotts Reaction

The school stated in 2014 [14]  “Caldicott shares the public abhorrence that adults in a position of trust and responsibility at the school abused children in their care during the 1960s and 1970s. “We apologise fully both to those who gave evidence of their abuse and to any others who might have been reluctant to come forward. “Thirty years on, Caldicott is now a very different school … our policies are fully in line with current legal requirements and these policies, which were developed with guidance from police and child protection regulators, are constantly being updated in conjunction with changes in the law.”

This apology appears lacking in sincerity, compassion, and proportionality.

• It fails to acknowledge the scale and effect of the abuse
• It fails to acknowledge the time period of abuse was not limited to the 60s and 70s but covered more than 50 years
• It fails to acknowledge the deliberate cover ups
• It fails to acknowledge that child protection policies in 200os in place were not followed
• It fails to acknowledge any duty to the victims and survivors to help their healing and for reparations and compensation

Other Schools

Caldicott is far from alone in perpetrating sexual abuse on pupils and covering it up.

Schools and other institutions, whatever their legal entity, in which child sexual abuse has been perpetrated find reasons not to tell the appropriate authorities about that abuse. Not least this is because they themselves may be culpable.

Although abuse was certainly not exclusive to “public” schools, ie private schools, it may have thrived there due to the ability of these schools to go under the radar of regulatory oversight and to cover up and not report offences to the Police or Social Services.

Andrew Norfolk has exposed some other private schools where abuse has happened in an article of typical depth and quality [41]

This list reproduced below of course does not include all the schools were abuse occurred.

• Bedford Modern School, Bedfordshire
• Beeston Hall Prep, Comer, Norfolk
• Belmont Abbey School, Herefordshire
• Birkdale School, Sheffield , S Yorkshire
• Blue Coat Prep School, Birmingham
• Boundary Oak Prep School, Fareham
• Buckfast Abbey Prep School, Devon
• Caldicott prep School, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire
• Clayesmore Prep School, Blandford Forum, Dorset
• Clifton College Prep School, Bristol
• Crookham Court, Newbury, Berkshire
• Dollar Academy, Clackmannanshire
• Downside School, near Bath, Somerset
• Dulwich College Prep School, London
• Gayhurst Prep School, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire
• Gilling Castle Prep School, Ampleforth
• Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, Elstree, Hertfordshire
• Hereford Cathedral School
• Holmwood Prep School, Colchester, Essex
• Junior King’s School, Canterbury, Kent
• King Edward’s School, Birmingham
• The Kings School, Rochester, Kent
• Knossington Grange Prep School, Oakham, Leics
• Lambrook Prep School, Ascot, Berkshire
• Leeds Grammar School
• Lichfield Cathedral School, Staffordshire
• Lord Wandsworth College, Hook, Hampshire
• Malsis Prep School, Skipton, North Yorkshire
• Moor Park Prep School, Ludlow, Shropshire
• Moreton End Prep School, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
• Nevill Holt Prep School, Market Harborough, Leics
• Old Ride Prep School, Bradford on Avon Wiltshire
• The Oratory School, Reading, Berkshire
• Papplewick Prep School, Ascot, Berkshire
• Pennthorpe School, Horsham, West Sussex
• Quainton Hall Prep School, Harrow, London
• Redrice School, Andover, Hampshire
• Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire
• The Royal School, Wolverhampton
• St. Bede’s College, Manchester
• St Benedicts School, Ealing, London
• St George’s School, Wicklewood, Norfolk
• St Joseph’s College, Dumfries
• St Mary’s Hall Prep School, Stonyhurst, Lancashire
• St Michael’s Prep School, Barnstable, Devon
• St Paul’s Cathedral Choir School, London
• St Peter’s Prep School, Seaford, East Sussex
• Sidcot School, Winscombe, Somerset
• Stoke Brunswick Prep School, East Grinstead, West Sussex
• Vernon Holme Prep School, Canterbury, Kent
• Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire
• West Hill Park School, Tichfield, Hampshire
• Winterfold House Prep School, Kidderminster, Worcestershire

Others mentioned in the article are

• Lords Wandsworth College – Patrick Nott assaulting
• Old Ride Prep School, Wiltshire and Lambrook Prep School Berkshire- Peter Hamilton Legg assaulting
• Gilling Castle Prep School and nearby Ampleforth College, North Yorkshire  Junior House- 3 Priests assaulting
• Salisbury Prep School assault on Richard Dawkins
• a Kent Prep school at which John Hurt was assaulted
• Shrewsbury School and Fettes College, Edinburgh. Anthony Chenevix-Trench accused by Paul Foot at Shrewsbury.
• Bradfield College Berkshire – Richard Ingrams resigned, excess flogging. Also at Shrewsbury
• Harrow, Sedburgh, Durham, Eton, Marlborough, Millfield, Oundle, Tonbridge,

Many questions need answering about the duty of care that they should have shown to the children, and to the parents -the fee payers / parties to the contract. It also raises questions about what the child protection policies of “public” / private / independent schools are, whether they are followed and what they should be. It raises questions about what duty there is on local councils, inspection bodies and central government in respect to private schools.

Even if only minority of pupils from Caldicott were abused, then it is a significant number just from one feeder Preparatory school to the likes of Eton, Harrow and Marlborough [23]. The list above shows some of the many abusive Prep Schools. Is it any wonder that the leaders of our country, who unfortunately come predominantly from a few select independent schools, are prone to aberrant sexual behaviour?

Mandate Now [18] “is a pressure group, formed by Caldicott survivor Tom Perry, amongst others, that seeks the introduction of law requiring staff who work in ‘Regulated Activities’ to report concerns about the welfare of children, and vulnerable adults, to the Local Authority. Mandatory reporting of suspected or known child abuse is a vital component of a functioning child protection system in institutional settings.” Mandatory Reporting is a vital issue if the self interest of abusing institutions is to be overcome.

Alex Renton has written on some of these issues and has many useful links  A series of stories on abuse in boarding schools and other child care institutions [19] as does the Boarding Concern blog and website [20]

To help expose child sexual abuse, the connections and the network between child abusers needs to be shown. Timelines need to be done for every school, childrens home and abuser. This can be done by victims and survivors and the truth can come out totally independently of the IICSA child sexual abuse inquiry or the police.

Timelines are simple, they just take time! Please consider helping to create one for the abuse you know about and send it anonymously if necessary to me. There are enough victims of abuse, if everyone did even a part of a rough or partial timeline of their experiences at a school, childrens homes or abusers we would have enough information to put together the national child abuse jigsaw. This Guide may help 10 Steps on How to Research Child Sexual Abuse in your area – A Rough Guide [5]

For the truth to come out it only relies on victims and survivors putting in their pieces of the jigsaw of child sexual abuse and then it being put together.

My respect to all victims, survivors and whistleblowers. It is completely your choice as to what is the correct decision – whether and when to tell someone else about your abuse, whether it is best to go the the police and go through the courts, or whether to join a survivors network, whether to communicate your feelings through song, art, writing or some other way.

If anyone does know want to email me in confidence on abuse@cathyfox.33mail.com.

Caldicott Timeline

c. 1930 Peter Wright born [3]

c. 1931 Hugh Henry born [9]

1935 – 1942 Guesstimate of Peter Wright attending Caldicott as pupil

1940 Story from ex pupil “I was at Caldicott school in the late 1940s under headmaster Shewell Cooper. Probably what happened in those pre-war days was fairly mild compared to the later Wright era, nevertheless several of the masters were obvious paedophiles then and various things went on like (unbelievably !) special boys being invited to the headmaster’s bathroom for cold baths in the mornings before breakfast- and certain master’s hands sliding up boy’s shorts – on a daily basis in the classroom and in front of the entire class ! The parents of course basically unaware of what was going on ! Us boys were actually quite aware of it all – I remember recounting events to my disbelieving parents ! (Lots more stories of those days …) [ [45] Comments at bottom of article]

1952 Peter Wright employed at Caldicott school (to 1993) [3]

1958-1963 Hugh Henry thought to have been at Caldicott [12] where he committed child sexual abuse

1959 Sept 26 John Addrison born [2]

1963 School Cover up 1 Hugh Henry found on bed of 12 year old at 2.30am [33] He left the school and later the Education officials were informed but Police were not told. He was not taken to court convicted for another 50 years, leaving him free to abuse and ruin lives all that time.

1964-72 Approximate time of John Addrison attending Caldicott as pupil

1964-1970 Peter Wright was offending and was later charged for offences in this period in [3]

1968 Peter Wright appointed Headmaster of Caldicott [33]

1973 School Cover up 2 Cover up of Martin Carson’s child sexual abuse [6] [33] He was dismissed after the matron and a teacher blew the whistle on Carson and he admitted to being a serial child abuser. Wright as Headmaster orchestrated the cover up. The Ministry was informed and he was banned from teaching for 5 years but worked for at least 2 more schools and leaving him free to abuse and ruin lives for another 30 years before being convicted but receiving only 3 years.

1973 Nov Teacher who had whistleblown on Martin Carson, showed a letter he had written to Education Officials stating that Carson had admitted to anal rape of two pupils. Wright the child abuser, now Headmaster tried to cover it up and ordered the teacher to deny the abuse to so as not to involve the school. [33]

1973 Peter Wright married! [33] Judge thought no abuse after this time

1975-1977 Offences alleged to have been committed at Caldicott by Keith Geddes, who was found not guilty

1978 Jan 1 – 1978 Jul 31 John Addrison employed at Caldicott as student teacher [34] and later tried for indecent assault and gross indecency offences against males under 16,  in this period of time [2]

1980 Carson resumed his career in 1980 at unnamed Prep school in Eastbourne, where he was appointed Head of Pastoral care [38]

1985 – 1988 Addrison taught at Catholic Moor Park School, Ludlow as History teacher, when Derek Henderson was Headmaster [34] [46]

1985 Dec 5 – 1988 Jul 31 Offences John Addrison charged with committing offences in this time period at Catholic Moor Park School [2] [34] 

1988 John Addrison dismissed from Moor Park School [2]. Headmaster was Derek Henderson who sent him to see School Governor who was friend of Addrison family. He left promising he would not teach again and the child abuse was hushed up [34]

1993 Peter Wright retired from Caldicott [3], but lived in a cottage next to the school overlooking it

2000’s early. School Cover up 3 Sexual abuse of a boy. The teacher concerned was suspended and did not return. It is alleged that the headmaster Simon Doggart and the now Lord Justice Scott Baker, then a Chairman of the Board of Governors at the school did not follow the schools correct procedures and failed to report the abuse to police or social services. ie. covered up the abuse [8] The Education Department equivalent who are responsible for warning other employers was informed.

2001 Apr Victim Tom Perry complained to Police about abuse at school  [6] [23]

2001 Peter Wright accused of offences from 1964-1970 [3]

2001-3 2 year Police investigation [3]

2003 Apr 1 Daily Telegraph Ex-prep school teacher jailed for child abuse [6] Carson  charged with two charges of buggery, eight charges of indecent assault and one count of possessing indecent photographs. Carson sentenced by Judge Roger Connor to two years on each count of buggery, six months for each count of indecent assault and seven days for the indecent material, all to run concurrently.

2003 May 6 Peter Wright charged with offences against 5 boys at Aylesbury Crown Court  [3] [11]

2003 Sept 25 Listed as Abuse of Process hearing for Peter Wright, perhaps  R v. Roland P Wright, Case No. T2003/0089 in Aylesbury Crown Court [11]

2003 Sept 26 Application on behalf of Peter Wright succeeded that indictment should be stayed [11]

2003 Sept 26 Pre trial Abuse of Process Hearing Peter Wright [28]

2003 Sept 26 Court Application Ruling on behalf of Peter Wright judged successful by Judge Connor. Wright had applied to stay the indictment which contained 13 counts of indecent assault and three of gross indecency with a child on the grounds of abuse of process [3]  Principal grounds on which he did so were that the complainants had waited more than 30 years, in one case 38 years, before making the complaints; that in the one case where two witnesses gave evidence of the same incident, there were substantial differences between the two accounts; that the police investigation had taken “an unconscionable amount of time”; that evidence might now be unavailable; that the defendant’s own capacity to remember detail and therefore give convincing evidence was said to be diminished by his advancing age (he was then 73) and his deteriorating health; and that there was some contamination of the evidence deriving from the fact that some of the complainants had discussed their allegations against the defendants with one another. He concluded that the defendant could not have a fair trial. It should be noted that at that time the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 enabling the prosecution to seek leave to appeal against a terminatory ruling of this kind had not yet come into force. [3]

2003 Nov 15 Telegraph 40 years on ex-pupils accuse the head. But a judge says it’s too late [23]

2007 Dec 17  Parliament Publications [11] Question to Secretary of State for Justice Maria Eagle re Peter Wright and what procedures are  being put in place to make give evidence easier for children.

2008 Sept 30 Guardian Silence in School [8] Did Headmaster and Chair of Governors mishandle abuse?

2008 Sept 31 [7]  Powerful Bafta winning Channel 4 documentary on Caldicott School featuring 3 survivors of child sexual abuse which names Peter Wright and Martin Carson [29] [1].

2010 May 12 Mail Online Clegg’s old school hit by child-abuse storm [24]  Civil court action has been launched by five of Wright’s alleged victims. Not known how far this has proceeded. Lawyer Peter Garsden.

2010 Jul Peter Addrison ceased teaching [2]

2010 CPS reviewed Peter Wright’s case. The Crown Prosecution Service had decided on a number of previous occasions that there should be no further charges [3] Advice of the principal legal adviser Alison Levitt [33] to the Director of Public Prosecutions was now sought [3]

2011 Apr 23 Mail Scandal of child abuse in prep schools must be addressed, says author Simon Astaire [25] Author wrote novel Mr Coles, based on Caldicott film

2011 Dec 5 CPS blog Two men charged with sexual offences against former pupils [10] Peter Wright, Hugh Henry by CPS Thames and Chiltern Complex Casework Unit lawyer

2011 Dec 5 Peter Wright charged with offences against a further seven complainants [3]

2011 Dec 5 BBC Two ex-teachers charged over 50-year-old sex offences  [9] Peter Wright at Caldicott and Hugh Henry at Gayhurst School, Gerrards Cross

2011 Dec 21 Peter Wright and Hugh Henry at magistrates court [9]

2012 Jan 5 Peter O’Brian signed his witness statement, confirming abuse by Hugh Henry at Gayhurst School  [30]

2012 Feb 17 Thames Valley Police Two men appear in court in connection with sex offences – Buckinghamshire [26] 

2012 May 11 Hugh Henry pleaded guilty [28]

2012 Peter Wright trial first proceeded [3] with Judge Cutts. Co-defendant, Hugh Edward Henry, pleaded guilty to 13 counts on the indictment but committed suicide prior to sentence. Peter Wright’s defence applied to stay the new proceedings as an abuse of process [3]  Prosecution applied for an order, in the event that the abuse application failed, for the stay imposed by Judge Connor to be lifted and the older allegations to be joined to the indictment containing the fresh ones; alternatively. for the stayed allegations to be admitted as bad character evidence in the trial pursuant to section 101(1)(d) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Wrights eventually trial took place in May and June 2013 [3]

In her ruling Her Honour Judge Cutts QC rejected the defence application for a stay, also rejected the prosecution application for the stay imposed by Judge Connor to be lifted but granted the prosecution application to be permitted to adduce the allegations which were the subject of the 2003 stay as bad character evidence at the new trial. [3]

A co-defendant, Hugh Edward Henry, pleaded guilty to 13 counts on the indictment.

2012 Aug 2 BBC Man on Caldicott Preparatory School sex abuse charges [16] re David Keith Geddes faces four counts of indecent assault on a child under 16 at Caldicott School between 1975 and 1977 Bailed to appear before Aylesbury magistrates on Aug 28

2012 Aug 9 BBC Ex-Moor Park School worker on 1980s child sex charges [17] Already charged with 4 offeences at Caldicott, John Addrison now charged with seven counts of indecent assault on three children at Moor Park School, Ludlow, Shropshire, between 1985 and 1988. He is due at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on 28 August.

2012 Aug 28 David Geddes Aylesbury magistrates hearing  [16]

2012 Aug 28 John Addrison due to appear at High Wycombe magistrates [17]

2012 Sept 11 John Addrison pleaded guilty [28] convicted of offences at Caldicott and Moor Park School at Crown Court Aylsbury [2]  Imprisonment for a period of 5 years and a Sex Offenders Notice was imposed against him for life [2]

2012 Oct 9 Keith Geddes appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court. Trial date set for 19 Nov [15]

2012 Oct 12 CPS Man to face trial for child sex offences – Buckinghamshire [15]  re David Keith Geddes on alleged offences of indecent assault against a male under 16 against three boys between 1975 and 1977 while he was working as a teacher at Caldicott. This was on the advice of the Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

2012 Nov 19 Trial of David Keith Geddes, scheduled for a week. Geddes is believed to have been acquitted [15]

2013 Jan 14 – 31 Trial 1 of Keith Geddes, hung Jury  [28]

2013 Mar 13 – 25 Trial 2 of Keith Geddes acquitted [28]

2013 May 1 – June Peter Wright Trial 1, acquitted on three counts but the jury disagreed on the 12 remaining counts involving five complainants [3]. He was retried in November 2013.

2013 Oct 31 Peter Wright retrial was due to take place before Judge Cutts in Nov 2013. Both sides sought to renew the applications they had made 12 months earlier. Previous rulings confirmed. Once again the judge refused the defence application for a stay and the prosecution’s cross application to lift the 2003 stay. On the issue of calling the five complainants whose allegations formed the subject matter of the charges stayed in 2003 to give bad character evidence, it appears that no new argument was put forward and the judge adhered to her previous ruling. Trial lasted 7 weeks. [3]

2013 Nov 14 Guardian Prep school teacher abused pupils 50 years ago, court told [42] John Pryce QC told the jury that 12 former pupils have accused him of abuse or said they witnessed him abusing others between 1959 and 1970. Wright, the jury was told, joined the school in the 1950s, taught French and rugby and was promoted to headmaster in 1968. Wright denies 12 offences relating to five victims, including 10 indecent assaults and two charges of indecency with a child

2013 Nov 13 – Dec 6 Peter Wright Trial 2 Guilty on all 12 counts [3]

2013 Dec 17 CPS blog Former headteacher of Caldicott School convicted of child sexual abuse [43] Former headteacher, Roland Peter Wright, has today been convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault involving 5 victims over a period of 11 years. This follows earlier convictions for fellow former teachers John Addrison, Edward Carson and Hugh Henry.

Ruth Bowskill, Temporary Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said:”This case marks the end of a series of prosecutions of four teaching staff involved in the serious sexual abuse of a number of children at Caldicott school in Buckinghamshire committed over a period of a decade. Roland Peter Wright has never shown any contrition for his behaviour or apologised for his conduct; at all times he has sought to evade responsibility for what he did. I would like to pay tribute to the victims and witnesses in this case for their strength and tenacity in coming forward and giving evidence on matters which must have been extremely distressing still years after the events took place. ” More at  [43] 

2013 Dec 18 The Times Andrew Norfolk Prep School paedophiles allowed to avoid Justice [32]

2013 Dec 18 The Times Andrew Norfolk p6-7 Model English Prep School that hid a dark heart of depravity [33] 

2013 Dec 18 Guardian Ex-prep school headteacher convicted of child sex offences [13] Peter Wright and George Hill abused Ian Mcfadyen

2013 Dec 19 The Times A life ruined by Caldicott paedophile [35]

2013 Dec 20 BBC  Updated article with “At a trial in March 2013, Mr Geddes was cleared by a jury of four counts of indecent assault on a child under 16” [16]

2013 Dec 20 The Times p17  The smiles that hid long reign of sex attacks by Caldicott teachers [34] 

2013 Dec 20 The Times  Leader The smiles that hid long reign of sex attacks by Caldicott teachers [46]

2013 Dec 20 Mail Online Paul Bracchi Cover-up that let the head of Nick Clegg’s prepschool get away with abusing boys for decades [38] 

2013 Dec 22 The Times [39] Louise Tickle My abuser’s caught but justice fails me  Tom Perry’s story, first whistleblower to tell Police. His search for jsutice and how he achieved it, with a film. By 2010 Det Constable Andy Alexander had joined the unit and moved things forward. tom  “My confidence in the institutions of state and government is now zero. My children, since they were very young, have had to live with a father consumed with rage. They have not come through those years unscathed. Court.. is all about tactical sparring, with the defence reinterpreting simple facts into a story you do not recognise.”

2014 Jan 20 The Times Andrew Norfolk 130 Private Schools in Child Abuse Scandal [40] 

Teachers at 130 independent schools have been implicated in child sexual abuse.

2014 Jan 20 The Times p9 Closed Worlds where Abusers Groomed Boys with Impunity [41]  sort next link

2014 Feb 5 Mail Online PE teacher, 82, at Nick Clegg’s old prep school killed after being hit by a train two days before he was due to be sentenced for abusing young boy [12] Hugh Henry

2014 Feb 6 Peter Wright sentencing.  Concurrent sentences, the longest of which was 8 years’ imprisonment. He appeals against those sentences by leave of the single judge.The single judge refused leave to appeal against conviction. He wrote:

“The evidence of the five earlier complainants was clearly admissible even though the charges relating to them had been stayed on the issue of whether you had committed the offences now charged or whether your only association with the complainants concerned was innocent. The judge, of course, retained a discretion to exclude the evidence under section 101(3) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 but as to that she took into account all the relevant considerations in paragraph 7 on page 15 of her careful ruling on 22 October 2012 and it is not properly arguable that she came to the wrong conclusion.”[3]

2014 Feb 6 BBC Nick Clegg’s ex-headmaster jailed for abusing boys [14]  Peter Wright. “It seems your new role, marital status and residence brought these offences to an end.” Another former teacher, John Addrison, 54, from Slough, was convicted of child sexual offences at Caldicott and sentenced to five years jail in 2012. A fourth Geddes was  acquitted. A statement from the school said: “Caldicott shares the public abhorrence that adults in a position of trust and responsibility at the school abused children in their care during the 1960s and 1970s.” and more

2014 Feb 6 The Times [44] Caldicott school head jailed for eight years for abusing boys [paywall]

2014 Jul 2 Addrison signed statment of agreed facts admitting allegations and convictions [2]

2014 Aug 5 Roland Peter Wright 5 August 2014 Court of Appeal Judgement Transcript [3]

This Judgment transcript contains much useful information and is recently published on this blog [3]. The grounds for appeal put forward on the renewed application relating to the conviction is that the trial judge was wrong to admit the evidence of bad character. The court, dismissing the appeal, held that prima facie all evidence that was relevant to the question whether the accused was guilty or innocent of the offence charged was admissible and if evidence of previous allegations was in principle admissible, notwithstanding that a defendant had been acquitted of charges based of those allegations in a previous trial, there was no reason in principle why evidence relating to allegations that had never been tried because of a stay of proceedings for abuse of process should not be admissible. [3]

Relating to appeal against sentence brought on the grounds of the defendant’s age (he is now 84) and his state of health. Mr Wright has a long standing back problem which despite surgery causes him constant pain. He is unable to walk without sticks and his mobility is restricted. He has difficulty with stairs. He cannot dress himself without assistance. He is hard of hearing. We accept that prison life will bear harder on him than it would on an inmate in better health. [3]

Save to the extent that old age and poor health are to be taken account, the delay in historic abuse cases in bringing the offender to justice is not generally a factor which mitigates the sentence he must receive. This is because, while the abuser maintains a facade of respectability, the victims continue to suffer. Lord Woolf, Chief Justice, giving the judgment of this court in  R v Milberry  [2003] 1 Cr App R 25 said:

“The fact that the offences are stale can be taken into account but only to a limited extent. It is after all always open to an offender to admit the offences and the fact that they are not reported earlier is often explained because of the relationship between the offender and the victim which is an aggravating factor of the offence. A different factor that could cause the court to take a more lenient view than it would otherwise is the consequences which results from the age of the offender. … the court is always entitled to show a limited degree of mercy to an offender who is of advanced years, because the impact that a sentence of imprisonment can have on an offender of that age.” [3]

See [3] for more reasoning but they decided that the judge’s figure of 8 years made proper allowance for the defendant’s age and the state of his health and in those circumstances the appeal against sentence must be dismissed.

2014 Aug National College for Teaching and Leadership Professional Conduct Outcome for John Addrison imprisonment for a period of 5 years and a Sex Offenders Notice was imposed against him for life. Mr John Addrison was prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England [2]

2017 Apr 10  BBC Further abuse allegations uncovered against leading QC https://t.co/hu2X1HTL0C [47]

The BBC has uncovered further allegations of abuse carried out by a leading barrister who ran Christian summer camps in the early 1980s.
John Smyth is accused of carrying out a series of brutal assaults on pupils at Winchester College.
The BBC has now been told that Smyth also recruited one of his victims and asked him to administer further beatings.
That pupil is now the head teacher of a prep school in Buckinghamshire.

[Also video which mentions Doggart and Simon https://t.co/hu2X1HTL0C%5D

2017 Apr 11 [Updated some typos and unclear meaning and added this section, which is also in comments ]

My article states that Doggart may have covered up abuse at Caldicott. – It is alleged that the headmaster Simon Doggart and the now Lord Justice Scott Baker, then a Chairman of the Board of Governors at the school did not follow the schools correct procedures and failed to report the abuse to police or social services. ie. covered up the abuse [8] The DfEE, (Education Department equivalent) who are responsible for warning other employers however was informed.

Justice Baker also has a question mark over him for having a conflict of interest  when he passed sentence on Carson. Connor was the Judge who only passed a 2 year prison sentence on Carson for offences which carried a maximum of life imprisonment.  He knew the then Chairman of Governors of Caldicott, the man who is now Lord Chief Justice Scott [38] They live near each other in Bucks and both play golf at nearby golf clubs. Connor, interestingly is now Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire [38]

Judge Connor was the same man who later blocked Peter Wrights prosecution [33]. This judgement not only prevented Wright being prosecuted on those charges but was used as precedent for 8 years as the reason for refusal of the CPS to bring more charges in other cases [36]

Please note that victims of abuse may be triggered by reading this information. These links are generally UK based.

• The Sanctuary for the Abused [A] has advice on how to prevent triggers.
• National Association for People Abused in Childhood [B] has a freephone helpline and has links to local support groups.
• Other useful sites are One in Four [C]
• and Havoca [D].
• Useful post on Triggers [E]  from SurvivorsJustice [F] blog.
• Jim Hoppers pages on Mindfulness [G]  and Meditation [H] may be useful.
• Hwaairfan blog An Indigenous Australian Approach to Healing Trauma  [J]
• Survivors UK for victims and survivors of male rape or the sexual abuse of men [K]
• Voicing CSA group [L] helps arrange survivors meetings in your area

Links

[1] 2008 Real Stories Chosen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoOzqebOU1k

[2] 2014 Government UK pdf download National College for Teaching and Leadership  Mr John Addrison: Professional Conduct Panel outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/346164/Prohibition_order_Mr_John_Addrison.pdf     See also Appendix 1 below

[3] 2014 Aug 5 Cathy Fox Blog Roland Peter Wright 5 August 2014 Court of Appeal https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2016/09/19/roland-peter-wright-5-august-2014-court-of-appeal/

[4] Caldicott School website http://www.caldicott.com/ Caldicott Boys’ Preparatory School Caldicott Trust Ltd, Crown Lane, Farnham Royal, Bucks SL2 3SL
Registered Company 936838  |  Charity number 310631

[5] 2015 May 25 cathy fox blog 10 Steps on How to Research Child Sexual Abuse in your area – A Rough Guide https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/researching-child-sexual-abuse-in-your-area-a-rough-guide/

[6] 2003 Apr 1 Daily Telegraph Ex-prep school teacher jailed for child abuse http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1426287/Ex-prep-school-teacher-jailed-for-child-abuse.html

[7] Wikipedia Caldicott School https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldicott_School

[8] 2008 Sept 30 Guardian Silence in School https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/sep/30/publicschools.childprotection

[9] 2011 Dec 5 BBC Two ex-teachers charged over 50-year-old sex offences http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-16037078

[10] 2011 Dec 5 CPS blog Two men charged with sexual offences against former pupils http://blog.cps.gov.uk/2011/12/two-men-charged-with-sexual-offences-against-former-pupils.html

[11] 2007 Dec 17  Parliament Publications -Hansard? Statement on R v Roland P Wright http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm071217/text/71217w0041.htm#07121824001126

[12] 2014 Feb 5 Mail Online PE teacher, 82, at Nick Clegg’s old prep school killed after being hit by a train two days before he was due to be sentenced for abusing young boy http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2552175/Top-prep-school-PE-teacher-82-killed-hit-train-two-days-sentenced-abusing-young-boy.html

[13] 2013 Dec 18 Guardian Ex-prep school headteacher convicted of child sex offences https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/18/headteacher-convicted-historic-child-sex-offences

[14] 2014 Feb 6 BBC Nick Clegg’s ex-headmaster jailed for abusing boys http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26073155

[15]  2012 Oct 12 CPS Man to face trial for child sex offences – Buckinghamshire http://www.cps.gov.uk/thames_chiltern/cps_thames_and_chiltern_news/man_to_face_trial_for_child_sex_offences___buckinghamshire/

[16] 2012 Aug 2 BBC Man on Caldicott Preparatory School sex abuse charges http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-19096822

[17] 2012 Aug 9 BBC Ex-Moor Park School worker on 1980s child sex charges http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19193065

[18] Mandate Now website http://mandatenow.org.uk/ @mandatenow

[19] Alex Renton Boarding schools – abuse and redress A series of stories on abuse in boarding schools and other child care institutions https://alexrenton.com/boarding-schools-abuse-and-redress/

[20] Boarding Concern blog and website http://www.boardingconcern.org.uk/blog/

[21] Operation Greenlight https://theneedleblog.wordpress.com/operation-greenlight/

[22] Operation Greenlight Brain https://webbrain.com/brainpage/brain/0FE31538-2121-8495-33A5-86073BE95DE1/thought/918#-541

[23] 2003 Nov 15 Telegraph 40 years on ex-pupils accuse the head. But a judge says it’s too late http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1446771/40-years-on-ex-pupils-accuse-the-head.-But-a-judge-says-its-too-late.html

[24] 2010 May 12 Mail Online Clegg’s old school hit by child-abuse storm http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1276388/Richard-Kay-11-May-2010.html

[25] 2011 Apr 23 Mail Scandal of child abuse in prep schools must be addressed, says author Simon Astaire http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1379914/Simon-Astaires-novel-Mr-Coles-based-real-life-abuse-prep-schools.html

[26] 2012 Feb 17 Thames Valley Police Two men appear in court in connection with sex offences – Buckinghamshire https://webbrain.com/brainpage/brain/0FE31538-2121-8495-33A5-86073BE95DE1/thought/918#-2474 Det Sergeant Joe Banfield

[27] Gayhurst School, Gerrards Cross http://www.gayhurstschool.co.uk/

[28] Mandate Now The Caldicott Trials and Outcomes http://mandatenow.org.uk/tom-interviewed-by-jon-snow/ includes Tom Perry interview with Jon Snow

[29] True Vision Chosen http://truevisiontv.com/films/details/97/chosen

[30] 2015 Feb 6 The Globe and Mail A film spurred me to confront my childhood nightmare 54 years later http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-film-spurred-me-to-confront-my-childhood-nightmare-54-years-later/article22848315/

[31] c. 2016 Jan Mandate Now Peter O’Brian former pupil of Gayhurst was abused by a teacher who then moved to Caldicott, speaks to CBC https://audioboom.com/boos/4141525-peter-o-brian-former-pupil-of-gayhurst-was-abused-by-a-teacher-who-then-moved-to-caldicott-speaks-to-cbc

[32] 2013 Dec 13 The Times Andrew Norfolk Prep School paedophiles allowed to avoid Justice http://truevisiontv.com/uploads/websites/39/wysiwyg/Caldicott_page_1.pdf

[33] 2013 Dec 13 The Times Andrew Norfolk Model English prep school that hid a dark heart of depravity http://truevisiontv.com/upload/websites/39/wysiwyg/Caldicott_pages_6__7.pdf

[34] 2013 Dec 20 The Times  p17 The smiles that hid long reign of sex attacks by Caldicott teachers http://truevisiontv.com/uploads/websites/39/wysiwyg/3_Caldictoot_Times.pdf

[35] 2013 Dec 19 The Times A life ruined by Caldicott paedophile http://truevisiontv.com/uploads/websites/39/wysiwyg/1_Times_Ian_piece.pdf

[36] 2013 Dec 19 The Times Power and Abuse The Caldicott headmaster shockingly abused his pupils. They have been let down by teachers and the legal system http://truevisiontv.com/uploads/websites/39/wysiwyg/1_Caldicott_The_Times_leader.pdf

[37] date ? Private Eye? http://truevisiontv.com/uploads/websites/39/wysiwyg/1_Caldicott_Chosen.pdf

[38] 2013 Dec 20 Mail Online Paul Bracchi Cover-up that let the head of Nick Clegg’s prepschool get away with abusing boys for decades http://truevisiontv.com/uploads/websites/39/wysiwyg/1Caldicott_Mail_Online.pdf

[39] 2013 Dec 22 The Times My abuser’s caught but justice fails me  http://truevisiontv.com/uploads/websites/39/wysiwyg/1_Cal_S_Times.pdf . It’s all about tactical sparring, with the defence reinterpreting simple facts into a story you do not recognise.

[40] 2014 Jan 20 The Times Andrew Norfolk 130 Private Schools in Child Abuse Scandal http://truevisiontv.com/uploads/websites/39/wysiwyg/Independent_schools_page_1_20_Jan_2014.pdf

[41] 2014 Jan 20 The Times p9 Closed Worlds where Abusers Groomed Boys with Impunity http://truevisiontv.com/uploads/websites/39/wysiwyg/Independent_schools_pages_8-9_20_Jan_2014.pdf

[42] 2013 Nov 14 Guardian Prep school teacher abused pupils 50 years ago, court told https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/14/prep-school-teacher-peter-wright-accused-sex-abuse-caldicott

[43] 2013 Dec 17 CPS blog Former headteacher of Caldicott School convicted of child sexual abuse http://blog.cps.gov.uk/2013/12/former-headteacher-of-caldicott-school-convicted-of-child-sexual-abuse.html

[44] 2014 Feb 6 The Times Caldicott school head jailed for eight years for abusing boys http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/crime/article3997735.ece

[45] Operation Greenlight  Caldicott Preparatory School https://theneedleblog.wordpress.com/operation-greenlight/south-east-england/buckinghamshire/caldicott-preparatory-school/

comment re previous head Shewell Cooper re abuse

[46] 2013 Dec 20 The Times  Leader The smiles that hid long reign of sex attacks by Caldicott teachers http://truevisiontv.com/uploads/websites/39/wysiwyg/3_Caldictoot_Times.pdf

 

[47] 2017 Apr 10  BBC Further abuse allegations uncovered against leading QC https://t.co/hu2X1HTL0C

[A] Sanctuary for the Abused http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.co.uk/2006/07/for-survivors-coping-with-triggers-if.html

[B] NAPAC http://www.napac.org.uk/

[C] One in Four http://www.oneinfour.org.uk/

[D] Havoca http://www.havoca.org/HAVOCA_home.htm

[E] SurvivorsJustice Triggers post http://survivorsjustice.com/2014/02/26/triggers-what-are-they-and-how-do-we-work-through-them/

[F] SurvivorsJustice Blog http://survivorsjustice.com/

[G] Jim Hopper Mindfulness http://www.jimhopper.com/mindfulness/

[H] Jim Hopper Meditation http://www.jimhopper.com/mindfulness/#cultivate

[J] 2016 Jan 5 Hwaairfan blog An Indigenous Australian Approach to Healing Trauma https://hwaairfan.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/an-indigenous-australian-approach-to-healing-trauma/

[K] Survivors UK website for victims and survivors of male rape or the sexual abuse of men https://www.survivorsuk.org/ and twitter https://twitter.com/SurvivorsUK

[L] Voicing CSA website – http://voicingcsa.uk/ helps arrange survivors meetings in your area. Voicing CSA supports the IICSA and VSCP and works to help adult survivors of child sexual abuse find their voice

This is all written in good faith but if there is anything that needs to be corrected please email caldicott@cathyfox.33mail.com

cathyfox

the truth will out, the truth will shout, the truth will set us free

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” – Edmund Burke

“He who does not bellow the truth when he knows the truth makes himself the accomplice of liars and forgers.” Charles Peguy

To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards out of men  – Ella  Wheeler Wilcox

 

Appendix 1

Government UK pdf download National College for Teaching and Leadership  Mr John Addrison: Professional Conduct Panel outcome Panel decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education August 2014  [2]

2 Contents

A. Introduction

3

B. Allegations

3

C. Preliminary applications

5

D. Summary of evidence

7 Documents

7 Witnesses

8

E. Decision and reasons

8

Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State

12

Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State

15

3

A.

Introduction

A Professional Conduct Panel (“the Panel”) of the National College for Teaching and

Leadership  (“the National College”) convened on 12 August 2014 at 53- 55 Butts Road,

Earlsdon Park, Coventry, CV1 3BH to consider the case of Mr John Addrison.

The Panel members were Ms Alison Walsh (Teacher Panellist and Chair), Mr John Speller (Teacher Panellist) and Mr Martin Greenslade (Lay  Panellist).

The Legal Adviser to the Panel was Mrs Luisa Gibbons of Eversheds LLP Solicitors.

The Presenting Officer for the National College was Ms Louisa Atkin of Browne Jacobson Solicitors.

Mr Addrison was not represented.

Convened as a meeting, neither the Presenting Officer nor Mr Addrison were present.

The meeting took place in private and was not recorded, save for the public

announcement of the Panel’s findings of fact and finding on conviction, at any time, of

relevant offences.

B.

Allegations

The Panel considered the allegations set out in the Notice of Meeting dated 1 August 2014

It was alleged that Mr John Addrison was guilty of having been convicted at Aylesbury Crown Court of the following

relevant offences:

Professional Conduct Panel decision and recommendations, and decision on behalf of the Secretary of State

Teacher: Mr John Addrison Teacher ref no:81/61179

Teacher date of birth: 26 September 1959

NCTL Case ref no: 0010569

Date of Determination: 12 August 2014

Former employer: Dismissed from Moor Park School in 1988

4

i)

Indecent assault on Male under 16. He committed this offence between 05/12/85 and

31/07/88. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 3 years (concurrent).

ii) Indecent assault on Male under 16. He committed this offence between 05/12/85 and

31/07/88. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 4 years (concurrent).

iii) Indecent assault on Male under 16. He committed this offence between 05/12/85 and

31/07/88. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 3 years (concurrent).

iv) Indecent assault on Male under 16. He committed this offence between 05/12/85 and

31/07/88. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 18 months (concurrent).

v) Gross indecency with a child (boy) under 16. He committed this offence between

05/12/85 and 31/07/88. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 16 months

(concurrent).

vi) Indecent assault on Male under 16. He committed this offence between 05/12/85 and

31/07/88. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 2 years (concurrent).

vii) Indecent assault on Male under 16. He committed this offence between 01/01/78 and

31/07/79. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 2 years (concurrent).

viii) Indecent assault on Male under 16. He committed this offence between 08/09/86

and 31/07/88. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 4 years (concurrent).

ix) Indecent assault on Male under 16. He committed this offence between 08/09/86 and

31/07/88. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 4 years (concurrent).

x) Indecent assault on Male under 16. He committed this offence between 01/01/78 and

31/07/78. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 5 years and a Sex

Offenders Notice was imposed against him for life.

xi) Indecent assault on Male under 16.

He committed this offence between 01/01/78 and

31/07/79. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 2 years (concurrent).

xii) Gross indecency with a child (a boy) or young person under 16. He committed this

offence between 01/01/78 and 31/07/79.

He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 16 months (concurrent).

xiii) Indecent assault on Male under 16. He committed this offence between 01/01/78

and 31/07/79. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 2 years (concurrent).

In a Statement of Agreed Facts signed by Mr Addrison on 2 July 2014, he

admitted thefacts of the allegations and that they amount to convictions, at any time, of relevant

offences.

5

C.

Preliminary applications

Should the Panel proceed with a Meeting?

The Panel considered at the outset whether the allegation should be considered at a

public hearing at which the parties would be entitled to attend, or a private meeting

without the parties present. The Panel considered the interests of justice.

The facts of the allegation have been admitted. This case relates to criminal convictions and this

Panel must not re-examine the facts of the case behind the convictions.

Mr Addrison has requested a meeting and the Panel has the benefit of Mr Addrison’s

representations. Inview of these factors, the Panel was of the view that justice would be adequately served

by considering this matter at a meeting.

These matters have already been aired in a public arena and the Panel considered that the cost of convening a hearing would be disproportionate in this case.

The Panel carefully considered the public interest. The Panel noted that if the case

proceeded in a meeting, there would be a public announcement of the Panel’s decision.

The Panel also had in mind that if a hearing was convened, there would be a cost to the

public purse, which may not be justified if the matter could be determined in a meeting.

The Panel also had regard to the delay that would be caused by convening a hearing and

considered it to be in the public interest to reach a final determination in this matter

without further delay. The Panel therefore decided to proceed with a meeting, but noted

that it could, at any stage of the meeting, reconsider this issue.

Jurisdiction

The Panel considered as a preliminary point whether the Panel had jurisdiction to

consider the case. It is apparent that at the time of some ofthe offences for which Mr Addrison was

convicted he was employed as a teacher at Moor Park School. The question is whether

he is now subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State as he was dismissed from

Moor Park School in 1988; he states he has not taught since then and is currently in

prison.

The issue for the Panel to determine was whether the phrase “is employed or engaged to

carry on teaching work” within section 141A and regulation 2 encompasses the situation

in this case.

The Panel was advised that the legal meaning of an enactment is the meaning that

corresponds to the legislator’s intention in passing the enactment. The Panel was

advised to consider the words used in section 141A and regulation 2 in the context of the

enactment as a whole, and the Panel’s attention was specifically drawn to section 141D

which applies where an employer has ceased to use the services of a teacher or the

teacher has ceased to provide those services.

The Panel was advised to consider whether it was of the view that the legal meaning of

the phrase “is employed or engaged to carry on teaching work” was plain and

12

The Panel has also taken account of how the teaching profession is viewed by others.

The Panel considered that Mr Addrison’s behaviour in committing the offence could affect

the public confidence in the teaching profession given the influence that teachers may

have on pupils, parents and others in the community.

The Panel has noted that Mr Addrison’s behaviour has ultimately led to him receiving a

sentence of imprisonment which is indicative of the seriousness of the offences committed.

This is a case involving an offence involving sexual activity which the Guidance states is

likely to be considered a relevant offence.

The Panel has taken into account a report of a Consultant Psychologist which sets out the

background to Mr Addrison committing the offences and which concluded that Mr

Addrison was not a risk to the public. The Panel also noted that Mr Addrison has

undergone life training to address his problems over a period of 2–3 years and that he

had appropriate intervention consisting of 50 therapy sessions. The Panel also noted

that he has complied with an undertaking given to Moor Park School not to return to

teaching.

Although the Panel finds this evidence to be of note, the Panel has found the

seriousness of the offending behaviour that led to the conviction is relevant to the

teacher’s ongoing suitability to teach.

The Panel considers that a finding that these convictions are relevant offences

is necessary to reaffirm clear standards of conduct so as to maintain public confidence in

the teaching profession.

Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State

Given the Panel’s findings in respect of conviction of relevant offences, it is necessary for

the Panel to go on to consider whether it would be appropriate to recommend the

imposition of a Prohibition Order by the Secretary of State.

In considering whether to recommend to the Secretary of State that a Prohibition Order

should be made, the Panel has to consider whether it is an appropriate and proportionate

measure, and whether it is in the public interest to do so. Prohibition Orders should not

be given in order to be punitive, or to show that blame has been apportioned, although

they are likely to have punitive effect.

The Panel has considered the particular public interest considerations set out in the

Guidance and having done so has found all of them to be relevant in this case, namely

the protection of pupils, the maintenance of public confidence in the profession, and

declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct.

In light of the Panel’s findings against Mr Addrison, there is a strong public interest

consideration in respect of the protection of pupils given the serious convictions of

13 indecent assault of children.

Although the Panel has taken into account a report of a Consultant Psychologist

which sets out the background to Mr Addrison committing the offences and which concluded that Mr Addrison

was not a risk to the public, the Panel considered the offences to be of such gravity and to be so linked to his behaviour

towards pupils that the Panel considered that pupils would continue to require protection.

Similarly, the Panel considers that public confidence in the profession could be seriously

weakened if the offences for which Mr Addrison has been convicted were not

treated with the utmost seriousness when regulating the conduct of the profession.

The Panel considered that a strong public interest consideration in declaring proper

standards of conduct in the profession was also present asthe conduct found against Mr

Addrison was so contrary to the conduct expected of a teacher.

Notwithstanding the clear public interest considerations that were present, the Panel

considered carefully whether or not it would be proportionate to impose a Prohibition

Order taking into account the effect that this would have on Mr Addrison.

The Panel balanced the public interest considerations both in favour of and

against prohibition as well as the interests of Mr Addrison, the Panel took further account of the

Guidance, which suggests that a prohibition order may be appropriate if certain

behaviours of a teacher have been proven. In the list of such behaviours, those that are

relevant are:



serious departure from the personal and professional conduct elements of the

teachers’ standards:



misconduct seriously affecting the education and/or well being of pupils, and

particularly where there is a continuing risk;



actions or behaviours that undermine fundamental British values, law, or

demonstrate deliberate intolerance and/or lack of respect of the rights of others;



a deep-seated attitude that leads to harmful behaviour;



abuse of position of trust (particularly involving vulnerable pupils) or violation of the

rights of pupils;



other deliberate behaviour that undermines pupils, the profession, or the school;



sexual misconduct, e.g. involving actions that were sexually motivated or of a

sexual nature and/or that use or exploit the trust, knowledge or influence derived

from the individual’s professional position;



the commission of a serious criminal offence, including those that resulted in a

conviction or caution, paying particular attention to offences that are ‘relevant

matters’ for the purposes of The Police Act 1997 and criminal record disclosures.

14

Even though there were behaviours that would point to a Prohibition Order being

appropriate , the Panel went on to consider whether or not there were sufficient mitigating

factors to militate against a Prohibition Order being an appropriate and proportionate

measure to impose, particularly taking into account the nature and severity of the

behaviour in this case.

The convictions relate to indecent assaults on a number of pupils at the two schools in which he worked

and he cannot therefore be said to have had a good history. This was a deliberate pattern of behaviour and there is no evidence that Mr Addrison was acting under duress.

The Panel also noted that Mr Addrison has undergone life training to address his problems over a period of 2–3 years and that he had appropriate intervention consisting of 50 therapy sessions. The Panel also noted that he has complied with an undertaking given to Moor Park School not to return to teaching.

The Panel were also pleased that Mr Addrison had pleaded guilty in the criminal court, and that the pupils did not have to experience the trauma of giving evidence.

The Panel also noted that there is no evidence of Mr Addrison having repeated any of the offences after 1988.

However, the Panel has decided that the seriousness of the offences for which Mr Addrison has been convicted is such that on balance, the Panel is of the view that Prohibition is both proportionate and appropriate.

Accordingly , the Panel makes a recommendation to the Secretary of State that a Prohibition Order should be imposed

with immediate effect.

The Panel went on to consider whether or not it would be appropriate for them to decide to recommend that a review period of the order should be considered. The Panel were mindful that the Guidance advises that a Prohibition Order applies for life, but there may be circumstances in any given case that may make it appropriate to allow a teacher to

apply to have the prohibition order reviewed after a specified period of time that may not be less than two years.

The Guidance indicates that there are behaviours that, if proven, would militate against a review period being recommended.

These behaviours include serious sexual misconduct, e.g. where the act was sexually motivated and resulted in or had the

potential to result in, harm to a person or persons, particularly where the individual has used their professional position to influence or exploit a person or persons.

The Panel has found that Mr Addrison has been responsible for such sexual offences. Although Mr Addrison has stated that he has reformed his character since these events, the Panel did not consider that the commission of such offences could be compatible with a return to teaching. The Panel therefore felt the findings indicated a situ ation in which a  review period would not be appropriate and as such decided that it would be proportionate in all the circumstances

for the Prohibition Order to be recommended without provision for a review period.

15

Decision and reasons on behalf of the Secretary of State

I have given very careful consideration to this case and to the recommendation of the

panel in respect of both sanction and review.

This case is a very serious one involving a number of convictions that the panel has

found to be relevant. These are very serious convictions and have resulted in custodial

sentences. In addition they are for sexual misconduct and indecent assault on a male

under 16.

I have taken into account the public interest as well as the interests of Mr Addrison. I

have also taken into account the need to be proportionate.

In my view these are very serious offences and I support the recommendation of the

panel that Mr Addrison be prohibited.

I have given careful consideration to the matter of a review period. The advice published

is very clear on this matter and these convictions clearly fall into those where a review

period is unlikely. I have considered this and support the recommendation of the panel

that there be no review period.

This means that Mr John Addrison is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and

cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or

children’s home in England.

Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that

Mr John Addrison shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

This Order takes effect from the date on which it is served on the Teacher.

Mr John Addrison has a right of appeal to the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court

within 28 days from the date he is given notice of this Order.

NAME OF DECISION MAKER: Alan Meyrick Date:13 August 2014

This decision is taken by the decision maker named above on behalf

of the Secretary of State.

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