RAPE ARRESTS DISCOVERED AS NEW SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AT FORMER BEMBRIDGE SCHOOL – Island Echo

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An Island Echo investigation into allegations of historic sexual abuse at Bembridge School found 2 men had previously been arrested on suspicion of raping a schoolboy, around 15 years after the young victim tried to report the matter to the police.

As reported exclusively by Island Echo in April, Hampshire Police have launched a criminal investigation to determine whether children at the former independent private school were sexually abused there during the 1980s – titled Operation Seaside.

Since our first report, other allegations have been disclosed by a former student at the boarding school who claims to have been raped by 2 men in positions of authority in the mid-1990s. He was then only 15 years old. The victim, who courageously spoke about his ordeal, alleges that he attempted to report the rapes to Newport Police Station the next day, but was “accused of lying” and “threatened with arrest” for having wastes police time.

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It was not until 2010 – more than 14 years after the alleged attacks – that an official statement was finally made and arrests made, prompted by the voice of the victim’s mother and the search for helps as her son’s mental health deteriorates.

Police confirmed to Island Echo that 2 people were arrested and questioned on suspicion of rape by Isle of Wight detectives, with both men being released on bail for a considerable period of time. However, no charges have ever been brought against them due to a lack of concrete evidence. One of the defendants is known to have been jailed in the late 1990s for a series of sexual assaults and has since been released from prison.

The victim claims he was told in 2011 that it was not in the public interest to prosecute despite assurances that it was a strong case – something police have denied, who said it was due to the evidence she had. The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that no cases have been referred to them for review.

Now, more than a decade after these arrests, Operation Seaside is examining sexual abuse that may have occurred several years before the alleged rapes of 1996. Despite this new operation, the aforementioned victim has not been contacted by police. from Hampshire and was only made aware of the new investigation due to the Island Echo article in April.

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It is believed that several people living abroad may also have key information for police, including a young Russian girl who allegedly attempted suicide in Bembridge before being boarded a plane home. A group of “survivors” was created online, prompting the police to launch an information-gathering portal.

Responding to claims that the initial report of the rapes had not been taped and taken seriously, a Hampshire Police spokesperson told Island Echo:

“Hampshire Police take all allegations of sexual offenses very seriously, especially those involving children or other members of the community at greatest risk.

“It takes a great deal of courage to report sexual offenses, and we salute the courage of survivors who took the necessary steps to file a complaint with the police. In all cases, officers seek to provide a compassionate and professional response to victims and to conduct a thorough and appropriate investigation.

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A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said:

The police are responsible for investigating suspected criminal offenses and, when they feel it is appropriate to refer a case to the Crown Prosecution Service for review, they will do so.

Regarding an investigation into an allegation of rape at Bembridge School in the 1990s, one case was not referred to the CPS for review.

We take the prosecution of rape and serious sexual offenses very seriously. We are working in conjunction with Hampshire Constabulary and other forces in the Wessex region (Dorset and Wiltshire) to ensure early engagement and better joint work, where appropriate, to build strong cases for prosecution. We are committed to restoring victims’ confidence in the criminal justice process.

We urge anyone who has been sexually assaulted to come forward and report to the police.

Bembridge School, which taught students ages 9 to 17, closed on September 23, 1997.

Operation Seaside remains open and investigations are ongoing, but police have no update to provide on its progress at this time.

Anyone with information or concerns about Bembridge School is encouraged to report them to the police on 101.

If you have been the victim of non-recent abuse, assistance is available:

NAPAC is the National Association for People Abused in Childhood. Trained staff interview survivors of all types of child abuse. Survivors UK offers a range of support services for men who have experienced sexual violence as a child or as an adult. providing confidential emotional support to people who experience feelings of distress or hopelessness

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