In this week’s episode, the abuse team discusses the subject of sexual abuse in schools, prompted by the recent headlines surrounding an ex-boarding school employee who has been jailed for 27 years following sexual offences he committed against students.
73-year-old Keith Figes was employed as a ‘housefather’ at Berrow Wood School in Worcestershire in the 1960s and 1980s, where he preyed on students and students and sexually abused them in their rooms. Figes has now become the 9th member of staff from the school to have been convicted of sexual offences. Figes was sentenced on the 3rd of October 2023 at Worcester Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to 11 counts.
Former pupils have come forward to report that they were continuously ignored by social services at the time when they came forward to report the abuse that took place there by Figes, Lambell and 7 others who have now all been convicted. Unfortunately, the convictions came too late for two victims, who sadly died before they got to see justice done. Our thoughts remain with their family and friends.
