Rape of pupil at Willenhall school 'could have been prevented'
The rape of a young girl by a Black Country teacher could have been prevented had his school and the police taken allegations by pupils seriously, a judge has claimed.
Wyn Davies admitted sexually abusing two pupils at Pool Hayes Primary School, Willenhall, in the 1970s when he appeared before Judge James Burbidge QC at Wolverhampton Crown Court last week.
The court heard the pair complained to the school at the time but were dismissed as liars and accused of making up the abuse because they were from 'broken homes' and seeking a 'father figure'.
They also told police but the allegations were not pursued further, said Miss Siobhan Collins, prosecuting.
By the 1980s, Davies was abusing another young girl. At court last week he admitted twice raping her and assaulting her.
Davies admitted a total of nine counts relating to his three victims, including rape and indecent assault of a child. In total he was jailed for 15 years.
Judge Burbidge said: "Had the matter been taken seriously by any part of the authorities the abuse suffered by the girl in the 1980s may well have been avoided."
Outlining what happened when school bosses were told, Miss Collins said at the first meeting, the complaints were not taken seriously.
"Another meeting was held with the parents of both victims and the defendant. It was suggested to them that they were lying and they were made to cry," she said. "At a third meeting it was suggested the girls invented their allegations as they were from broken homes and had been looking for a father figure."
Judge Burbidge told Davies: "These are the grossest breaches of trust."
West Midlands Police and the school declined to comment.
