Ex-boarding faculty employees members accused of permitting ‘unchecked’ abuse
Six former staff members at a boarding school for boys with learning difficulties have been accused of allowing a culture of sexual and physical ‘to flourish virtually unchecked’, a court heard.
Four men and two women aged between 52 and 78, appeared before Birmingham Court today in connection with the alleged sex abuse scandal at Rhydd Court School, in Worcestershire, between the late 1970s and early 1990s.
Prosecutors have said teachers ‘did little or nothing to prevent’ abuse and would also ‘use it to their own advantage’ committing similar offences against victims.
The jury heard the alleged victims at the now-closed boarding school, which catered special educational needs students, were aged as young as eight or nine.
Prosecuting, Riel Karmy-Jones KC, opened the case against Michael Connor, aged 71, John Dixon, 84, Terence Heath, 76, Marie Handy, 52, Charmaine James, 64, and 78-year-old David Sykes.
Former art teacher David Sykes, of Rotherham, (pictured at Worcester Magistrates Court in 2022) further denies charges of indecent assault and causing actual bodily harm
Marie Handy (pictured), of Bredon, Gloucestershire, pleaded not guilty to a single further count of indecent assault of a male
She told the court: ‘The prosecution case is that children who attended that school suffered emotional, physical and sexual abuse on a systematic scale at the hands of both other children that were there, and members of staff.
‘Those who worked at the school, the Crown say, allowed a cruel culture of neglect and ill-treatment to flourish virtually unchecked.
‘The prosecution say these defendants were part of a group of teachers and staff members who were aware of what was going on but did little or nothing to prevent it.
‘Rather they used it to their own advantage, going on to commit similar offences against the children themselves.’
Jurors were told the council-run school would cater for around 90 pupils aged between eight and 18 with special educational needs at any one time.
Three other staff members who were named in the indictment have since died, the court heard,
This includes ex-headteacher James Moore and his wife Cynthia Moore, who was a matron at the school, Birmingham Live reports.
Of the other two co-accused, one is awaiting trial at later date while another is currently outside the jurisdiction of the court.
All six defendants have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit child cruelty between January 1979 and July 1991.
Retired deputy headteacher Heath, of Hanley Castle, further denies conspiracy to commit a serious sexual offence and conspiracy to commit indecent assault.
Charmaine James, of Rathven, Banffshire, (pictured in 2022) also denies two counts of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child
John Dixon, (pictured) a former woodwork and metalwork teacher denies one child cruelty charge and five sexual offences, including three indecent assaults
The trial, which is expected to end in December, continues (Pictured: Birmingham Crown Court)
Ex-Rhydd Court senior master Connor, of Crofton near Wakefield, has also pleaded not guilty to a further 12 charges, including four of conspiracy to commit a sexual offence and three of assault.
Dixon, a former woodwork and metalwork teacher, of Burgh le Marsh, Lincolnshire, denies one child cruelty charge and five sexual offences, including three indecent assaults.
Former art teacher Sykes, of Rotherham, further denies charges of indecent assault and causing actual bodily harm.
James, of Rathven, Banffshire, also denies two counts of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child.
She worked at the school as a house-mother between 1983 and 1990.
Handy, of Bredon, Gloucestershire, pleaded not guilty to a single further count of indecent assault of a male.
She was employed as a house-mother at Rhydd Court, which occupied a former stately home near the River Severn.
The trial, which is expected to end in December, continues.
