Two ex-boarding school teachers charged with historic ‘sex offences’

By The Press Association23rd March 2016News EnglandChild Abuse, News England, Non-Recent / Historic Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Sussex

Two former teachers at a boarding school have been charged with historic sex offences against pupils.

The offences concern the alleged abuse of children at Ashdown House School, near Forest Road, East Sussex, in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Maurice Williams, 71, retired, of High Street, Barcombe, East Sussex, has been charged with four alleged offences, two of indecent assault and two of gross indecency, all with a girl under 16 between 1989 and 1993.

Martin Haigh, 66, unemployed, of Lavender St, Brighton, has been charged with 11 alleged offences, five of indecent assault and six of gross indecency, all against boys between 1972 and 1978.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “The offences are alleged to have occurred while both men were employed as teachers at Ashdown House School near Forest Row. None of the offences are alleged to have been committed jointly.

“Police emphasise that there are no current or recent safeguarding issues at the school in relation to this case.”

Williams and Haigh are due to appear on police bail at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on April 21.

A third man, now aged 68, arrested in Tadley, Hampshire, in January 2015 on suspicion of gross indecency, has been stood down from his police bail while the CPS consider the evidence in relation to him.