Case Study – survivor of sexual abuse at Castle Hill School receives compensation

Abuse solicitor, Mark Crompton, successfully represented a Claimant in relation to a claim for compensation against Castle Hill School. 

The school was an independent boarding school in Ludlow, Shropshire.  The Claim related to sexual assaults inflicted on the Claimant between 1985 and 1989 by the principal of the school; Ralph Patrick Morris. 

The school closed in 1989 after complaints about sexual abuse were made by some other pupils. The Claimant was interviewed by the police and subsequently gave evidence against Morris at his trial in 1990 when he was convicted of sexually abusing a number of boys at the school. 

It is understood that Morris subsequently committed suicide in prison when he was recognised by another prisoner who was a survivor of his abuse. 

Our client had been awarded compensation by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) in the 1990’s in relation to his abuse but he did not make a civil claim as he thought it was not possible. 

He instructed us that the abuse had a significant impact on his mental health throughout his life. He had only recently found peace within himself.

We were instructed to pursue a claim for compensation and were able to trace the insurers of the school. 

Unfortunately, the criminal case was too long ago for the police or the court to be able to trace their records. 

We were however able to trace the Claimant’s child social care records which confirmed that he had attended the school and confirmed his subsequent involvement with the police and the criminal case. 

The school insurers refused to indemnify the school on the basis that Morris was the joint owner of the school and that they could not be liable for his deliberate acts of sexual abuse. The insurance policy was terminated when the school closed.  

We obtained disclosure which confirmed that there was nothing in the insurance documents that referred to any such exception clause.  

We also pursued an argument that the sexual abuse arose because of systemic negligence at the school for which they could not refuse indemnity. 

Following negotiations the insurance company settled the claim without the need for litigation (or going to court). 

Our client said “I would like to say thank you for the help you gave me. When I wanted to give up, thank you for not giving up on me. The outcome was more than I was expecting. Thank you so very much for the hard work”