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Peter Burr abuse victim 'spoke out after hearing show' | Peter Burr abuse victim 'spoke out after hearing show' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man who came forward to report being abused by a teacher after listening to a radio show says his abuser was helped by a system that encouraged silence. | A man who came forward to report being abused by a teacher after listening to a radio show says his abuser was helped by a system that encouraged silence. |
The victim, known as Arthur, was one of four pupils sexually abused by Peter Burr at Christ's Hospital School in West Sussex between 1969 and 1973. | The victim, known as Arthur, was one of four pupils sexually abused by Peter Burr at Christ's Hospital School in West Sussex between 1969 and 1973. |
Burr, 73, was jailed for three-and-a-half years last week. | Burr, 73, was jailed for three-and-a-half years last week. |
Arthur contacted police after hearing a feature on BBC Radio London about sexual abuse in football. | Arthur contacted police after hearing a feature on BBC Radio London about sexual abuse in football. |
Before then, he said, police did not take him seriously. | Before then, he said, police did not take him seriously. |
Arthur waived his anonymity to speak out to appear on the Vanessa Feltz show on Friday, but decided not to reveal his surname. | Arthur waived his anonymity to speak out to appear on the Vanessa Feltz show on Friday, but decided not to reveal his surname. |
Arthur said he started at the boarding school in 1970 after his father died, and was put in the house Burr was the tutor of. | Arthur said he started at the boarding school in 1970 after his father died, and was put in the house Burr was the tutor of. |
'Grab you underwater' | 'Grab you underwater' |
"Within weeks of being sent to the school I remember being aware of him hanging around, brushing against you, looking at you, touching you if he got the chance," Arthur said. | "Within weeks of being sent to the school I remember being aware of him hanging around, brushing against you, looking at you, touching you if he got the chance," Arthur said. |
Every activity, Arthur said, "became blighted". | Every activity, Arthur said, "became blighted". |
"If he took us to the swimming pool it was an opportunity to grab you and feel you underwater," he added. | "If he took us to the swimming pool it was an opportunity to grab you and feel you underwater," he added. |
The abuse went on for three years until Arthur changed houses. | The abuse went on for three years until Arthur changed houses. |
But he said it had affected the rest of his life, making him withdrawn and finding it hard to trust people. | But he said it had affected the rest of his life, making him withdrawn and finding it hard to trust people. |
Arthur said he did not tell anyone about it while at the school out of fear of bullying. | Arthur said he did not tell anyone about it while at the school out of fear of bullying. |
When the father-of-two decided to report it in 2003 to police in Horsham, Sussex, he said he was not taken seriously. | When the father-of-two decided to report it in 2003 to police in Horsham, Sussex, he said he was not taken seriously. |
But he added he felt "no resentment because I don't think there was a language in society" for the information he was relaying. | |
Thirteen years later, while listening to the radio show discussing sexual abuse claims in football, Arthur said he realised "people were starting to listen" to male abuse victims. | Thirteen years later, while listening to the radio show discussing sexual abuse claims in football, Arthur said he realised "people were starting to listen" to male abuse victims. |
He took his case back to police in 2017 and this time it was taken further. | He took his case back to police in 2017 and this time it was taken further. |
'Sensitively and confidentially' | 'Sensitively and confidentially' |
Arthur also wrote to the school, which wrote back praising him for getting in touch, saying it now took safeguarding issues "very seriously". | Arthur also wrote to the school, which wrote back praising him for getting in touch, saying it now took safeguarding issues "very seriously". |
Sussex Police said it found no record of Arthur's report in 2003 but that it "fully investigated" his claims in 2017. | Sussex Police said it found no record of Arthur's report in 2003 but that it "fully investigated" his claims in 2017. |
The force also said it set up the Complex Abuse Unit to deal with historic abuse cases. | The force also said it set up the Complex Abuse Unit to deal with historic abuse cases. |
"Sussex Police takes reports of historic sexual offences very seriously and will always seek to complete a thorough investigation," a spokesperson said. | "Sussex Police takes reports of historic sexual offences very seriously and will always seek to complete a thorough investigation," a spokesperson said. |
"We encourage the reporting of these offences and assure survivors they will be treated sensitively and confidentially." | "We encourage the reporting of these offences and assure survivors they will be treated sensitively and confidentially." |
In a letter to former students, the school's current headmaster Simon Reid said: "We remain committed to ensuring that the experience of every pupil at Christ's Hospital School is positive and recognise that there is no room for complacency where safeguarding is concerned. | In a letter to former students, the school's current headmaster Simon Reid said: "We remain committed to ensuring that the experience of every pupil at Christ's Hospital School is positive and recognise that there is no room for complacency where safeguarding is concerned. |
"It is always a priority for the school and we will continue to challenge ourselves to ensure that Christ's Hospital provides the safest possible environment for the pupils in our care." | "It is always a priority for the school and we will continue to challenge ourselves to ensure that Christ's Hospital provides the safest possible environment for the pupils in our care." |
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