My despair over pupils’ sex abuse at Scots school
Ex-teacher speaks out
A FORMER English teacher at Loretto has revealed details of a horrifying “culture of violence” and sexual abuse at the prestigious Scottish public school.
David Stock has spoken to The Herald on Sunday about evidence and testimony from pupils that he gathered recounting multiple cases of violent bullying and sexual abuse.
He says he informed the school’s authorities, but claims the offences were “covered up” and he was given no alternative but to resign his post. When Mr Stock left Loretto, he says, he was made to sign a confidentiality agreement ordering him to “shut his mouth” and not reveal what he had uncovered on pain of heavy financial consequences.
Loretto is Scotland’s oldest boarding school with fees ranging up to £11,900 per term. In a statement to The Herald on Sunday in the wake of Mr Stock’s allegations, the school issued an “unreserved apology” saying it “deeply regrets the distress caused”.
The alleged offences involve older pupils aged 17 or 18 carrying out violent and sexual acts against younger pupils. The alleged incidents happened in the late 1980s and early 90s. Mr Stock has given evidence about what he knows to the ongoing Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. His allegations have been corroborated by another former teacher at the school, who worked at a higher pay grade than him.
Mr Stock, who taught at the school between 1972 and 1991, learned of the extent of pupil-on-pupil abuse when he set one of his classes a writing assignment on the issue of bullying.
The boys began to confide in him about incidents of violent bullying and sexual assault. Most of the incidents “took place in public rooms like showers and dormitories”, Mr Stock said.
Mr Stock, who is 79 and lives in Scone, was educated at Trinity College Dublin where he earned a first in English. He also studied at the University of British Columbia and the Sorbonne in Paris.
Among the alleged offences Mr Stock recounted was a case in which two young pupils “were repeatedly subjected to sexual attack by a sixth former. He’d get into bed with them and bite them and stroke them”.
The attacker had a belt for beating younger pupils which he called “Billy the Belt Buckle”, Mr Stock said. He added: “If younger pupils resisted, he’d use ‘Billy the Belt Buckle’.”
Younger pupils were also forced into a room where they would be physically and sexually abused, Mr Stock said, “often involving a hockey stick”.
Another young pupil was abused with a deodorant stick in front of an entire dormitory”.
One boy was “in the shower when an older boy forced his way in”. Mr Stock said: “The older boy unbuckled his trousers and was going to carry out a sexual attack. The younger lad managed to escape.”
Boys were also beaten with cricket bats. One boy was dangled out of a high window and another from a staircase. A boy was also made to rub Deep Heat into his genitals in front of others.