Earl Spencer’s abuse claims referred to local authority

THE school where Earl Spencer claims he was physically and sexually abused as a pupil in the 1970s has referred the allegations to the local authority, a spokesman has said.

In a book to be published this week, the 59-year-old says he was molested by a female assistant matron at Maidwell Hall prep school in Northamptonshire, where he was a pupil between 1972 and 1977.

He claims the “voracious paedophile”, who was a young woman in her late teens or early 20s, sexually abused him and other pupils while they were in their dormitory beds at night.

Earl Spencer also alleges the former headmaster would spank boys on their bare bottoms, while another teacher took boys for naked swimming lessons.

The claims appear in his memoir A Very Private School, in which he reveals he was so traumatised by his experiences he considered shooting himself with one of his father’s shotguns.

In a statement, a spokesman for Maidwell Hall said the allegations were difficult to read about and a referral had been made to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

The spokesman also urged any other pupils with similar allegations to come forward and report them to either the school, the local authority or the police.

In the book, Earl Spencer reveals how the alleged sexual abuse took place when he was moved into a new dormitory when he was aged around 11.

He claims the assistant matron at the time – whom boys would refer to as “Please” – would come into the room after lights out and hand out illicit snacks.

But he said one night she kissed him on the lips before molesting him under the bedsheets.

He said he was not the only pupil she did this to and would choose a different boy each term to have intercourse with.

The book also makes allegations about other members of staff including the late headmaster, John Alexander Hector Porch, who was known to the boys as Jack.

He claims he meted out brutal corporal punishment with a slipper or a cane that sometimes left the boys bloodied and bruised.

A spokesman for Maidwell Hall said: “It is sobering to read about the experiences Charles Spencer and some of his fellow alumni had at the school, and we are sorry that was their experience.

“It is difficult to read about practices which were, sadly, sometimes believed to be normal and acceptable at that time.

“Within education today, almost every facet of school life has evolved significantly since the 1970s.

“At the heart of the changes is the safeguarding of children, and promotion of their welfare.”