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Two arrested in Kesgrave Hall boarding school investigation Two arrested in Kesgrave Hall boarding school investigation
(about 9 hours later)
A retired teacher and care worker have been arrested on suspicion of child sexual offences following a Guardian investigation into abuse claims at a boarding school for troubled boys. A retired teacher and a care worker have been arrested on suspicion of child sexual offences following a Guardian investigation into abuse claims at a boarding school for troubled boys.
The men, now aged 65 and 62, worked at Kesgrave Hall school in Ipswich, Suffolk, within the period of the alleged abuse over two decades from the 1970s to the 1990s. The men worked at Kesgrave Hall school in Ipswich, Suffolk, within the period of the alleged abuse over two decades from the 1970s to the 1990s.
The care worker, a 62-year-old from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, has also been arrested as part of a separate criminal investigation into child abuse in north Wales care homes. One of the men, who was from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, has also been arrested as part of a separate criminal investigation into child abuse in north Wales care homes.
The National Crime Agency confirmed that the 62-year-old former care worker was the 20th suspect arrested under Operation Pallial, the investigation ordered in late 2012 by David Cameron. The National Crime Agency confirmed that a 62-year-old former care worker was the 20th suspect arrested under Operation Pallial, the investigation ordered in late 2012 by David Cameron.
The arrests come 16 months after 10 men told the Guardian about a spectrum of abuse at the now-closed Kesgrave Hall school stretching back 30 years. Suffolk police launched an urgent investigation into the allegations, which ranged from alleged sexual abuse by teachers to claims of "military levels" of physical abuse, such as forcing pupils to kneel on their hands for hours on end. It is understood that the man was questioned in relation to two claims of indecent assault, alleged to have taken in place in north Wales in 1976 against a boy aged 13 or 14.
Suffolk police said the 65-year-old teacher was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and buggery. The second man, a 62-year-old member of care staff at Kesgrave Hall, was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and also arrested separately by the National Crime Agency under the Operation Pallial investigation into abuse in the north Wales care system. It is understood that the man was questioned in relation to two claims of indecent assault, alleged to have taken in place in north Wales in 1976 against a boy then aged 13 or 14. Both suspects were released on bail until 13 August. Suffolk police said a 65-year-old teacher was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and buggery.
More arrests could follow as detectives scour evidence from around 22 former pupils of the school, which closed in 1993 and is now an upmarket country retreat. Both suspects were released on bail until 13 August.
On Friday, one former Kesgrave Hall pupil, Alexander Hanff, 40, said: "There was an extensive round of interviews in the early 1990s and as a result of the Guardian articles to now find out 16 months later that there have been arrests is good news. More arrests could follow as detectives scour evidence from about 22 former pupils of the school, which closed in 1993 and is now an upmarket country retreat.
The arrests come 16 months after 10 men told the Guardian about a spectrum of abuse at the now-closed Kesgrave Hall school stretching back 30 years. Suffolk police launched an urgent investigation into the allegations, which ranged from alleged sexual abuse by teachers to claims of "military levels" of physical abuse, such as forcing pupils to kneel on their hands for hours.
Alexander Hanff, 40, a former Kesgrave Hall pupil, said on Friday: "There was an extensive round of interviews in the early 1990s and, as a result of the Guardian articles, to now find out 16 months later that there have been arrests is good news.
"My concerns now are how many possible offences have happened or how many other victims are there as a result of action not being taken [in the 1990s].""My concerns now are how many possible offences have happened or how many other victims are there as a result of action not being taken [in the 1990s]."
Another ex-pupil, Lee Woolcott-Ellis, 49, said: "I am encouraged by recent developments with the Kesgrave Hall School historic abuse investigation by Suffolk police and it is not too late for anyone who feels they suffered physical, mental or sexual abuse whilst attending Kesgrave Hall School between 1975 and 1992, to contact the police." Lee Woolcott-Ellis, 49, another ex-pupil, said: "I am encouraged by recent developments with the Kesgrave Hall school historic abuse investigation by Suffolk police and it is not too late for anyone who feels they suffered physical, mental or sexual abuse whilst attending Kesgrave Hall School between 1975 and 1992 to contact the police."
More than 30 pupils were interviewed during a 1992 police investigation, which was later shelved after the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence for a reasonable prospect of conviction.More than 30 pupils were interviewed during a 1992 police investigation, which was later shelved after the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence for a reasonable prospect of conviction.
Four members of staff who had been suspended for seven weeks during that investigation were returned to their posts after receiving psychiatric help. However, the school closed less than a year later.Four members of staff who had been suspended for seven weeks during that investigation were returned to their posts after receiving psychiatric help. However, the school closed less than a year later.
It was not until late December 2012, in the aftermath of the Jimmy Savile scandal, that a number of former pupils came forward and spoke to the Guardian about the alleged sexual and physical abuse at Kesgrave Hall.It was not until late December 2012, in the aftermath of the Jimmy Savile scandal, that a number of former pupils came forward and spoke to the Guardian about the alleged sexual and physical abuse at Kesgrave Hall.