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Child molester William Vahey applied for outside school activities with pupils Child molester William Vahey applied for outside school activities with pupils
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Child molester and teacher William Vahey stated explicitly in a draft job application aimed at an English school that he would only take a post if it guaranteed "extensive opportunities" to spend time with pupils outside school. Child molester and teacher William Vahey stated explicitly in a draft job application aimed at an English school that he would take a post only if it guaranteed "extensive opportunities" to spend time with pupils outside school.
New computer files taken from one of his last homes in Nicaragua reveal that he wrote down the demand in an application letter for a history teaching post at "King's College School" for the academic year 2009/10. New computer files taken from one of his last homes in Nicaragua reveal he wrote the demand in an application letter for a history teaching post at "King's College school" for the 2009/10 academic year. In the letter, Vahey wrote: "A basic value that I hold is to constantly seek to be involved with students outside of the classroom setting. I would not consider any position that did not offer extensive opportunities for interaction with students in sports and extra curricular activities."
In the letter as discovered, Vahey wrote: "A basic value that I hold is to constantly seek to be involved with students outside of the classroom setting," he said. "I would not consider any position that did not offer extensive opportunities for interaction with students in sports and extra curricular activities." Vahey did not go to work at a King's College school – there is more than one of that name in the UK – instead taking a job at the elite Southbank international school in central London between 2009 and 2013. Nor is it known if he sent off the application.
Vahey did not go to work at a King's College School – there is more than one of that name in the UK – instead he took a job at the elite Southbank International School in central London between 2009 and 2013. Nor is it known if he actually sent the application letter off. But the letters, which were found by US TV network Univision and have been shared with the FBI and seen by the Guardian, do give an insight into Vahey's thinking.
But the letters, which were found by US TV network Univision, and have since been shared with the FBI, as well as being seen by the Guardian, do give an insight into Vahey's thinking. The American teacher killed himself last month after he was discovered with images of children on his computer. He had taught at eight international schools across seven countries.
The American teacher killed himself last month after he was discovered with images of children on his computer. He had previously taught at eight international schools across seven countries. Police believe he may have abused up 60 children at the London school by drugging them on field trips. On Friday, one boy whom Vahey took on a field trip said he had become unexpectedly drowsy after eating a group meal and then the history and geography teacher took him back to his bedroom alone. He believes he was almost certainly abused while asleep.
Police now believe he may have abused up 60 children at the London school by drugging them on field trips. On Friday, one boy whom Vahey took on a field trip told the Guardian he became unexpectedly drowsy after eating a group meal and then the history and geography teacher took him back to his bedroom alone. He believes he was almost certainly abused while asleep. The FBI, which is investigating his crimes with Scotland Yard, said it was receiving a big international response from people who believe they may have evidence of abuse by "one of the most prolific suspected sexual predators that we've seen".
The FBI, which is investigating his crimes with Scotland Yard, said at the weekend it is receiving a "big" international response from people who believe they may have evidence of abuse by "one of the most prolific suspected sexual predators that we've seen". The cache from Nicaragua, where Vahey taught after leaving Southbank, is understood to contain a huge number of files, including images of a group of naked adolescent boys in an unidentified outdoor location beside a canoeing station, a semi-naked teenage boy, and pictures of the teacher with his arms around groups of children.
The cache from Nicaragua, where Vahey taught after leaving Southbank, is understood to contain a huge number of files which include images of a group of naked adolescent boys in an unidentified outdoor location beside a canoeing station, a single semi-naked teenage boy, and pictures of the teacher with his arms around groups of children. Univision says it received the laptop from a security guard in the Nicaraguan capital, Managua, who claimed he found it in a bin. It contains dozens of folders of images that correspond to field trips Vahey took while working at Southbank between 2009 and 2013.
The latest evidence was passed to FBI investigators on Friday by the Univision channel which says it received the laptop from a security guard in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua who claimed he found the laptop in a bin. It contains dozens of folders of images which correspond to field trips Vahey took while working at Southbank between 2009 and 2013. A source familiar with the new material described it as disturbing, and investigators in America have told one worried parent the volume of evidence is now so extensive it could be three to six months before victims are notified. "Additional potential evidence in the form of a hard drive has been turned over to the FBI via the US embassy in Nicaragua," an FBI spokeswoman said."The potential evidence is being brought back to the United States for forensic review. We are working in concert with Metropolitan police authorities in London."
A source familiar with the new material described it as disturbing and investigators in America have told one worried parent the volume of evidence is no so extensive it could be three to six months before victims are notified. "Additional potential evidence in the form of a hard drive has been turned over to the FBI via the US Embassy in Nicaragua," an FBI spokeswoman confirmed."The potential evidence is being brought back to the United States for forensic review. We are working in concert with Metropolitan police authorities in London." The new laptop evidence also sheds fresh light on Vahey's self-promotional skills, that some parents said he used to groom them to entrust him with their children. "I am a master teacher who enjoys great popularity with students and parents because my classes make learning fun," he boasted in the letter to King's College school.
The new laptop evidence also sheds fresh light on Vahey's self-promotional skills, that some parents said he used to groom them to entrust them with their children. "I am a master teacher who enjoys great popularity with students and parents because my classes make learning fun," he boasted in the letter to King's College School. He explained his "love of student travel and extensive background in this area", including "white water rafting, an overnight in a traditional Indian village, zip lines, bungee jumps, surfing, snorkelling, white water river tubing, repelling down cliffs and waterfalls, riding ATVs [quad bikes], galloping horses and climbing Inca pyramids". He claimed to have led student tours to Thailand, India, Jordan, Nepal, Bahrain, Syria, Greece, Egypt, Russia, England, Kenya, Hungary, Turkey, Iran, Singapore, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
He explained his "love of student travel and extensive background in this area" including "white water rafting, an overnight in a traditional Indian village, zip lines, bungee jumps, surfing, snorkelling, white water river tubing, repelling down cliffs and waterfalls, riding ATVs, galloping horses and climbing Inca pyramids". He claimed to have led student tours to Thailand, India, Jordan, Nepal, Bahrain, Syria, Greece, Egypt, Russia, England, Kenya, Hungary, Turkey, Iran, Singapore, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominica Republic and Venezuela.
Vahey promoted his foreign excursions through his "travel club" which he set up at Southbank after having run similar operations at a previous eight international schools in seven countries. Some of the folders in the latest data cache were titled "Travel club" and "Nica Travel Club".Vahey promoted his foreign excursions through his "travel club" which he set up at Southbank after having run similar operations at a previous eight international schools in seven countries. Some of the folders in the latest data cache were titled "Travel club" and "Nica Travel Club".
In another letter drafted after securing a contract at Southbank, he told a friend: "Southbank is not as financially well off as the larger London international schools, but it is known for having a laid back atmosphere".In another letter drafted after securing a contract at Southbank, he told a friend: "Southbank is not as financially well off as the larger London international schools, but it is known for having a laid back atmosphere".
The initial evidence that sparked the international investigation was contained on USB stick taken from Vahey's home in Nicaragua last month and passed to his school employer. According to an FBI affidavit it contained images of unconscious boys aged around 12 to 14. The contents gave the FBI probable cause to suspect offences of child pornography and illicit sexual activity. The affidavit said it constituted evidence of "minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct". The initial evidence that sparked the international investigation was contained on a USB stick taken from Vahey's home in Nicaragua last month and passed to his school employer. According to an FBI affidavit it contained images of unconscious boys aged around 12-14. The contents gave the FBI probable cause to suspect offences of child abuse images and illicit sexual activity. The affidavit said it constituted evidence of "minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct".
Parents and pupils in London are still waiting to find out who will be identified. Scotland Yard has established that among 90 images of children, 50 to 60 were of Southbank pupils and some showed Vahey had molested his victims. Parents and pupils in London are waiting to find out who will be identified. Scotland Yard has established that among 90 images of children, 50-60 were of Southbank pupils and some showed Vahey had molested his victims.
Families of former pupils have attacked also Southbank's handling of the crisis. "Until we chased them, we received no communication from the school whatsoever, even though my son might be a victim," said a parent of a boy who went on field trips with Vahey and moved abroad only last year."They blamed the absence of contact on the size of the administrative task. It's infuriating and unacceptable." Families of former pupils have attacked Southbank's handling of the crisis. "Until we chased them, we received no communication from the school whatsoever, even though my son might be a victim," said a parent of a boy who went on field trips with Vahey and moved abroad only last year."They blamed the absence of contact on the size of the administrative task. It's infuriating and unacceptable."
Sir Chris Woodhead, chairman of the school's governors said the delay was caused by the need to confirm addresses of parents abroad. "We first learned about Vahey on Tuesday afternoon/evening," he said. "A letter to UK parents went out tea time on Thursday. This was followed by a statement on the school website for parents who have moved overseas on Friday. A letter to overseas parents is to be sent tomorrow [Monday]." Sir Chris Woodhead, chair of governors at the school, said the delay was caused by the need to confirm addresses of parents abroad. "We first learned about Vahey on Tuesday afternoon/evening," he said. "A letter to UK parents went out at tea time on Thursday. This was followed by a statement on the school website for parents who have moved overseas on Friday. A letter to overseas parents is to be sent tomorrow [Monday]."
Parents at Southbank will meet the school's leaders, police and council child abuse experts on Monday evening in central London. In a letter to parents announcing the meeting, Graham Lacey, the school's executive principal said: "It is now imperative that we meet as a school community as soon as possible, with a representative from the police and the Westminster child protection agencies." Parents at Southbank will meet the school's leaders, police and council child abuse experts on Monday evening in central London. In a letter to parents announcing the meeting, Graham Lacey, the school's executive principal, said: "It is now imperative that we meet as a school community as soon as possible, with a representative from the police and the Westminster child protection agencies."