Malcolm was asked to leave school when his parents complained about a member of staff who abused him
All names and identifying details have been changed.
Participants have given us permission to share their experiences.
Malcolm was sent to a Church of England school, after his father took advice from a local vicar.
He was sexually abused by a clergyman at the school, and the vicar who had recommended the school later admitted that he had been abused by the same man.
As soon as Malcolm arrived, the school pastor, Peter, took an interest in him. He would call Malcolm into his office on the pretext of taking an interest in his school work, and then sexually abuse him.
Malcolm explains that the abuse began with Peter touching him under his trousers, but one day, Peter ‘got more daring and then realised he’d gone too far’. He offered Malcolm money to continue, but Malcolm refused.
Malcolm was about 10 years old when the abuse began, and it continued regularly for about two years, before he told his parents. They went to see the headmaster, who told them their son was ‘making it up’. At this, Malcolm’s father reported the abuse to the vicar who had recommended the school. Astonishingly, the vicar revealed that he too had been abused by Peter.
No action was taken against Peter and he remained at the school for the next year. He did write to Malcolm’s parents, saying how sorry he was for what had happened and promising it wouldn’t happen again. When his parents complained that the pastor was still teaching at the school, Malcolm was asked to leave.
Peter later moved to another school where he went on to perpetrate more child sexual abuse. He was subsequently convicted of multiple offences, including serious sexual assault, and received a long prison sentence. Malcolm was involved with the case, and says he had a positive experience with the police.
Malcolm describes the profound effect the abuse has had on his life. He became disruptive in school and left with no qualifications. He went to prison for a short time, and finds it difficult to hold down a job for more than a few months.
He suffers from depression, anger and anxiety, and wonders if the pastor will come looking for him when he is released. He has changed his identity several times, and converted to a non-Christian religion. He has been diagnosed with PTSD.
Malcolm has taken out a civil action against the church because he feels it should be held accountable. He feels strongly that the church is just writing compensation cheques ‘left, right and centre’ but not taking action to make changes.