Abuse survivor speaks of ‘relief’ after former teacher is jailed
AWOMAN who was sexually abused by her primary school teacher as a child has spoken of her relief after he was finally jailed.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, says she is now determined to move on with her life after Gordon Fleming received a 10-year prison sentence.
Speaking after Friday’s hearing at Swansea Crown Court, the survivor – who is now in her forties – said she was “relieved”.
She said: “I am relieved that Fleming pleaded guilty and spared me and other survivors the pain and distress of a protracted court case.
“While it cannot change the past, I am glad we have now seen justice done and hope that it will go some way to giving us the peace to move on with our lives.”
Fleming, 66, from Oswestry in Shropshire, admitted sexually abusing 24 girls at schools in north Wales in the 1970s and ‘80s.
The woman said she was about 10 when she was abused as a pupil near Aberystwyth.
She said the abuse has affected her relationships with her husband, family and children, as well as causing her to experience repeated nightmares and flashbacks.
She added: “I hope that by speaking out, others who have suffered abuse by those who were supposed to be in a position of trust will feel they can come forward and that justice can be done, even after so many years.”
Peter Lorence, a specialist abuse lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who is representing her, described the woman as “extremely courageous”.
He said: “Many people who suffer sexual abuse as a child can be affected by the ordeal for the rest of their lives.
“Their experiences can have a significant impact on the way they develop as an adult and how they live.”
The court heard Fleming was jailed for several years at Chester Crown Court in 1992 for charges of a similar nature while he was headmaster at a village school near Welshpool.
The charges Fleming admitted in April relate to an earlier time when he was teaching at another primary school in north Wales.
Dyfed Powys Police launched an inquiry after a number of his pupils reported what happened to them while they were in his classroom.
Officers appealed to girls he taught at the school between 197681 and charges were brought in respect of two dozen of his former pupils.
Fleming admitted 35 counts of indecent assault.
At a plea hearing in April, Judge Geraint Walters told Fleming to expect a “significant prison sentence”.
He added: “You have admitted systematically sexually abusing no less than 24 young girls who were in your trust at the time.
“This represents a serious breach of trust for a junior school teacher abusing so many young girls.”
Fleming was jailed for 10 years and ordered to register as a sex offender.