The national newspaper reported allegations from three former boarders at the college who claim they were among a group of at least 18 boys abused or groomed for abuse by Dr Morley Stuart, who taught classics at the school in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
One man, who said he was 14 when a teacher attempted to assault him sexually, told The Observer that he went to the police in 1980 on the advice of the boarding house matron. But his case was dropped when detectives said that interviews with several boys had found a lack of corroborating evidence.
‘It was the paedophile’s perfect set up because you’re trapped on this island...poor, hungry, trapped and vulnerable,’ said the man.
He said he had been lured to the home of Dr Stuart, where the teacher stripped down to his underpants and pulled the boy onto a bed, leaving him ‘terrified’.
Another former pupil claimed he was plied with alcohol and forced into sexual touching by Dr Stuart, and he recalled one occasion on which he was ‘half naked and drunk’ in the teacher’s office and had to be rescued by his brother.
A third complainant said he was physically abused by two members of staff in the college’s lower school.
The Observer article, written by home affairs editor John Simpson, said the abuse inquiry announced by the college last week, which is being led by child protection expert Joanna Nicolas, was set up following investigations led by the paper.
The college confirmed to the Guernsey Press yesterday that Dr Stuart had worked there between 1976 and 1982.
‘The disclosures raised about him were reported to the police at the time who conducted an investigation. Subsequent disclosures have also been notified to them,’ said a spokesman for the college.
‘The college is unequivocal in its condemnation of any form of abuse and deeply regrets and apologises to anyone who has suffered abuse at the college. Its thoughts lie firmly with anyone affected by such issues.
‘What happened in the past, and the college’s handling of such matters, is a matter for the review [by Ms Nicolas] which will provide any past pupils affected with an opportunity to be heard.’
During most of his time at the college, Dr Stuart was also editor of The Elizabethan, the school magazine.
In one volume which he edited, a report about activities undertaken by boys aged 13 and 14 stated: ‘One group pursued Dr Stuart to various places of interest, including the Underground Hospital, where the darkness provided useful cover.’
When Dr Stuart left the island, he was applauded by the college for his work in the classics department and as master of the middle school.
‘His work for his pupils was always meticulously prepared and they recognised the very high level of efficiency which was the hallmark of the teaching they received from him,’ it said.
‘Dr Stuart thoroughly coordinated the three-weekly assessments of boys in [the middle school] and saw to it that boys’ success was recognised and that the recalcitrant were brought into line. Above all, like all the best schoolmasters, he knew his boys and they knew it.’
Dr Stuart was then appointed head of classics at Malsis School in Yorkshire, which the Court of Appeal later criticised for showing ‘utter disregard for the welfare of the pupils’ and allowing staff to act with ‘virtual impunity’, after several of its former teachers were convicted of sexually abusing pupils in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
Dr Stuart eventually left teaching, became Brother James Simon and lived as a monk at the Society of St John the Evangelist, a monastery in London, until his death last year.
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