Chloe Hadjimatheou

As Gavin says, lots of former Christ College boys think this story's best left in the 80s, a different time when different attitudes prevailed, and who knows what really happened anyway. The thing is, back in 1988, when Miss Bowen first had sex with Gareth, it seems some people did know, and they knew it was wrong. And their failure to act to protect Gareth is still having consequences today.

As Gavin says, lots of former Christ College boys think this story's best left in the 80s, a different time when different attitudes prevailed, and who knows what really happened anyway. The thing is, back in 1988, when Miss Bowen first had sex with Gareth, it seems some people did know, and they knew it was wrong. And their failure to act to protect Gareth is still having consequences today.

I'm Chloe Hadjimotheou, and from Tortoise, this is Lucky Boy. Episode two, The Relationship. Every morning when he's 14 years old, Gareth's mum wakes him up at the crack of dawn. He wolfs down his breakfast and rushes out the door to do a paper round before school. The extra pocket money comes in really useful. He mostly spends it on comics and sweets at the corner shop.

I'm Chloe Hadjimotheou, and from Tortoise, this is Lucky Boy. Episode two, The Relationship. Every morning when he's 14 years old, Gareth's mum wakes him up at the crack of dawn. He wolfs down his breakfast and rushes out the door to do a paper round before school. The extra pocket money comes in really useful. He mostly spends it on comics and sweets at the corner shop.

Not many of his mates have a job, so he's super proud of that paper round. That's the mornings. In the afternoons, Gareth's having sex with a 27-year-old woman. After the first time Miss Bowen lets Gareth into her room, it becomes a regular after-school activity.

Not many of his mates have a job, so he's super proud of that paper round. That's the mornings. In the afternoons, Gareth's having sex with a 27-year-old woman. After the first time Miss Bowen lets Gareth into her room, it becomes a regular after-school activity.

This is happening around the spring of 1988, when he's in his fourth year at school. Year 10, we call it these days, or ninth grade in the US. While other boys are at cadets club or practising with the cricket team, Miss Bowen and Gareth get the bus together outside Christ College at 3.30. And then they walk up from the stop to the house she shares with other young professionals.

This is happening around the spring of 1988, when he's in his fourth year at school. Year 10, we call it these days, or ninth grade in the US. While other boys are at cadets club or practising with the cricket team, Miss Bowen and Gareth get the bus together outside Christ College at 3.30. And then they walk up from the stop to the house she shares with other young professionals.

Did you tell her you loved her again?

Did you tell her you loved her again?

It's difficult to know what Miss Bowen was thinking in moments like this and whether she meant it when she told a 14-year-old boy she loved him. And of course she's on my list of witnesses too. I want to ask her directly. But first, I want to hear the whole story from Gareth's perspective. Was she always the one in control? Was she the one...

It's difficult to know what Miss Bowen was thinking in moments like this and whether she meant it when she told a 14-year-old boy she loved him. And of course she's on my list of witnesses too. I want to ask her directly. But first, I want to hear the whole story from Gareth's perspective. Was she always the one in control? Was she the one...

In May, it's Gareth's birthday. He remembers Miss Bowen being really pleased about it.

In May, it's Gareth's birthday. He remembers Miss Bowen being really pleased about it.

As in, it doesn't sound as bad for a woman of almost 30 to be having sex with a 15-year-old. Even so, it's clear she has some awareness that this is still not acceptable, because she's careful. Just before 6pm every evening, she makes him leave her place.

As in, it doesn't sound as bad for a woman of almost 30 to be having sex with a 15-year-old. Even so, it's clear she has some awareness that this is still not acceptable, because she's careful. Just before 6pm every evening, she makes him leave her place.

When Gareth's mum asks where he's been, he tells her he was with friends near his old house where he lived with his dad in Hendon. His best mate lives on an estate there. The friend's the only person Gareth's confided in. He hasn't told a single mate at Christ College School. And actually, it isn't that hard because Gareth's a misfit. He doesn't have a lot of friends at the school.

When Gareth's mum asks where he's been, he tells her he was with friends near his old house where he lived with his dad in Hendon. His best mate lives on an estate there. The friend's the only person Gareth's confided in. He hasn't told a single mate at Christ College School. And actually, it isn't that hard because Gareth's a misfit. He doesn't have a lot of friends at the school.

Perhaps that's one of the reasons Miss Bowen might have picked him out of the hundreds of boys there.

Perhaps that's one of the reasons Miss Bowen might have picked him out of the hundreds of boys there.