30 September 2023 , 16:37
1008
0
Three women sexually assaulted as teens by a teacher at TV star Jeremy Clarkson’s alma mater are suing the £40,000-a-year school.
Shamed maths teacher and hockey coach Simon Clague, 57, got seven years and 11 months last year after admitting eight counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency. He preyed on girls as young as 13 in the 90s at Repton School, Derbyshire. One girl, 14 when she met Clague, said in a victim impact statement: “[He] encouraged me to miss a day of school and spend the day in bed with him. It was all brushed under the carpet by the school.”
Jessica Standley, of law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp, said: “Clague used his position to groom my clients. It is important for survivors to see not just the abuser held accountable but the organisation, in this case the school.”
TV star Jeremy Clarkson attended the school (Getty Images)Former Top Gear host Clarkson, 63, has told of being beaten at Repton, whose other old boys include author Roald Dahl. Three governors quit last year after the school declined to sack a teacher accused of sexual misconduct. It said two independent reviews backed its handling of the matter.
The school has said it is “profoundly sorry” for failing to protect Clague’s victims and any ex-pupils contacting it “will be taken extremely seriously”. Repton School was approached for comment about the legal action.
Nursery apologises after child with Down's syndrome ‘treated less favourably’