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| William Vahey child abuse: International paedophile could have abused in London school | William Vahey child abuse: International paedophile could have abused in London school |
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| The FBI has appealed for up to 90 potential victims of a prolific paedophile who taught at a top private school in London to come forward. | The FBI has appealed for up to 90 potential victims of a prolific paedophile who taught at a top private school in London to come forward. |
| William James Vahey, 64, committed suicide in Minnesota on 21 March, two days after FBI agents filed a warrant to search his computer. According to FBI reports, the computer contained child abuse images involving 90 different children aged between 12 and 14. | William James Vahey, 64, committed suicide in Minnesota on 21 March, two days after FBI agents filed a warrant to search his computer. According to FBI reports, the computer contained child abuse images involving 90 different children aged between 12 and 14. |
| Before his death, Vahey admitted to a school administrator at the American Nicaraguan School in Nicaragua, where he was teaching at the time, that he had “preyed on boys his entire life” and “he would give them sleeping pills prior to molesting them". | Before his death, Vahey admitted to a school administrator at the American Nicaraguan School in Nicaragua, where he was teaching at the time, that he had “preyed on boys his entire life” and “he would give them sleeping pills prior to molesting them". |
| Vahey worked at the Southbank International School in London, where he taught pupils aged 11-16 history and geography between 2009 and 2013. | Vahey worked at the Southbank International School in London, where he taught pupils aged 11-16 history and geography between 2009 and 2013. |
| The chair of governors at the school, Sir Chris Woodhead, told Sky News that the Met Police had informed him that pupils at the school were targeted by Vahey. | The chair of governors at the school, Sir Chris Woodhead, told Sky News that the Met Police had informed him that pupils at the school were targeted by Vahey. |
| "This is a completely shocking revelation", he told the Guardian. "We are co-operating with what is now an international police inquiry." | "This is a completely shocking revelation", he told the Guardian. "We are co-operating with what is now an international police inquiry." |
| It is now suspected that the Vahey carried out child abuse on a global scale during a teaching career that lasted 40 years and saw him teach in at least 10 different countries. | It is now suspected that the Vahey carried out child abuse on a global scale during a teaching career that lasted 40 years and saw him teach in at least 10 different countries. |
| In an attempt to gauge the scale of Vahey's abuse, FBI agents are appealing to current and former students that may have been aware of his actions to speak to them. | In an attempt to gauge the scale of Vahey's abuse, FBI agents are appealing to current and former students that may have been aware of his actions to speak to them. |
| One particular area that the FBI is keen to explore is whether or not Vahey abused children on overnight field trips he organised and led for the children. | |
| The revelations have come as a massive shock to staff and parents at the £25,000-a-year private school. | The revelations have come as a massive shock to staff and parents at the £25,000-a-year private school. |
| Maria, who has a 13-year-old son who was part of one of Vahey’s field trips last year, said she “couldn’t sleep for worrying about it” and that she had to “sit her son down” and ask him if anything had ever happened in to him at school. | |
| The school has said that all of the correct criminal checks were made on Vahey and any other person seeking employment from the school. | |
| While Vahey was arrested for child molestation in his native America in 1969, this would not have shown up when Southbank International School checked his record. | While Vahey was arrested for child molestation in his native America in 1969, this would not have shown up when Southbank International School checked his record. |
| The school is now planning to hold a meeting with parents within the next 24 hours and support will be offered to parents and pupils that may have been abused. | The school is now planning to hold a meeting with parents within the next 24 hours and support will be offered to parents and pupils that may have been abused. |
| FBI special agent Patrick Fransen said that he had never seen abuse on this scale ever before and that the fact that Vahey would molest boys while they were unconscious meant that there could be many victims that are completely unaware that anything had happened to them. | FBI special agent Patrick Fransen said that he had never seen abuse on this scale ever before and that the fact that Vahey would molest boys while they were unconscious meant that there could be many victims that are completely unaware that anything had happened to them. |
| Maria said: "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." | Maria said: "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." |