A prolific paedophile who taught at a London school was a "very popular" teacher who never showed any hint of wrongdoing, the school's chair of governors has told Sky News.
Sir Chris Woodhead confirmed pupils were abused by William James Vahey, who killed himself last month.
British detectives are helping an international investigation into Vahey, an American who abused at least 90 known victims around the world.
The 64-year-old killed himself in a Minnesota motel room on March 21 - two days after FBI agents filed for a warrant to search a computer thumb drive containing child abuse images featuring at least 90 children aged from 12-14.
Sir Chris told Sky News he discovered children at the Southbank International School had been targeted after receiving information from the Met Police, who in turn were informed by the FBI.
He said: "When we appointed him we had a criminal records bureau investigation done, as is standard procedure.
Vahey taught at Southbank International School. Pic: Joe Tidy "We had another CRB check three years later; we requested interviews from his previous schools covering 17 years of his previous professional employment. The references were immaculate."
Vahey worked at the school from 2009-2013, teaching history and geography to pupils aged 11-16.
Specific safeguarding children checks showed "nothing untoward" and there were never any complaints against him, added Sir Chris.
Some parents had even written to the school to say they were sad when he decided to leave.
"He was a very popular member of staff with both parents and students - which is perhaps an index of his sophistication and cleverness as a deceitful man who abused children," said Sir Chris, a former chief inspector of schools.
Police broke the news to staff at the £25,000 a year school this morning and a letter is being to parents this afternoon.
The victims on Vahey's computer drive appeared drugged and unconscious in the images dating back to 2008.
However, FBI agents believe he may have abused children on an unprecedented scale during his 40-year teaching career in at least 10 countries.
The thumb drive was handed to the US Embassy by one of Vahey's co-workers at the American Nicaraguan School in Managua after it was discovered by one of his domestic staff, who first raised the alarm.
In a statement on its website the FBI said: "When confronted about the images by a school administrator, Vahey confessed that he was molested as a child and had preyed on boys his entire life, giving them sleeping pills prior to the molestation."
The FBI is appealing for public help to identify potential victims, who appear to have been abused during overnight field trips led by the US citizen.
Parents have been showing "considerable concern" after receiving confirmation that Vahey took part in several field trips while working at the London school.
One couple said Vahey was their 13-year-old son's teacher last year - they found out about his crimes last night.
The mother said: "I couldn't sleep for worrying about it and I had to sit my son down and ask him if anything had ever happened in school.
"Mr Vahey also took my son on a field trip abroad and this is a big concern for us.
"My son is fine though and I would have expected his behaviour to change if anything happened so I don't think anything did.
"I know there are pictures that police have of boys but if my son is on the list, I don't want to know and I don't want him to know."
Another parent told Sky News: "It's massively worrying."
Families at the school are to be offered psychological counselling.
The FBI said Vahey was jailed for child molestation in California in 1969, but the conviction does not appear to have shown up when checked by schools.
FBI special agent Patrick Fransen said some of the alleged victims may not know they were abused.
He said: "He created a system that gave him the opportunity and the means to molest children.
"The manner in which he committed these acts - while the boys were unconscious - may have inhibited them from knowing what happened, making it impossible for them to come forward at the time."
He added: "I've never seen another case where an individual may have molested this many children over such a long period of time."
A Met Police spokesman said: "Officers from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Investigation Team are assessing and evaluating intelligence passed to the MPS by US authorities, and actively seeking any evidence whilst working with partner agencies to ensure that potential victims are supported."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
UK School Confirms US Paedophile Abused Pupils
Dengan url
http://jidatlancip.blogspot.com/2014/04/uk-school-confirms-us-paedophile-abused.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
UK School Confirms US Paedophile Abused Pupils
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
UK School Confirms US Paedophile Abused Pupils
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar