Chloe Hadjimatheou

And then they talk about the real reason they were having this call. What happened between Gareth and this teacher at Christ's College.

And then they talk about the real reason they were having this call. What happened between Gareth and this teacher at Christ's College.

The first time Mark tells me about all this, that this former classmate of his, Gareth, had called him out the blue to talk about how he'd been sexually abused by his teacher at the age of 14. I have to admit, I immediately jumped to what I thought was a pretty obvious conclusion, that the teacher carrying out the abuse had been a man. It's an easy assumption to make.

The first time Mark tells me about all this, that this former classmate of his, Gareth, had called him out the blue to talk about how he'd been sexually abused by his teacher at the age of 14. I have to admit, I immediately jumped to what I thought was a pretty obvious conclusion, that the teacher carrying out the abuse had been a man. It's an easy assumption to make.

Most abusers tend to be male. And recently I've been hearing more and more of these cases about boys being abused in boarding schools and churches. But this is not that story. Because in this case, the abuser was a woman.

Most abusers tend to be male. And recently I've been hearing more and more of these cases about boys being abused in boarding schools and churches. But this is not that story. Because in this case, the abuser was a woman.

So the sort of, the implication was... It was his fantasy and he got to fulfil his fantasy. Yeah. What's he complaining about?

So the sort of, the implication was... It was his fantasy and he got to fulfil his fantasy. Yeah. What's he complaining about?

All Mark remembers from back then was rumours. But what I want to know is, were there people who saw stuff who can give me a better idea of what really happened? So I get him to ask round. He tells me there are WhatsApp groups where loads of old boys, now men, still stay in touch. And he's happy to connect me.

All Mark remembers from back then was rumours. But what I want to know is, were there people who saw stuff who can give me a better idea of what really happened? So I get him to ask round. He tells me there are WhatsApp groups where loads of old boys, now men, still stay in touch. And he's happy to connect me.

What about Gareth? I don't remember him, but Mark's sure I knew him back when we were kids.

What about Gareth? I don't remember him, but Mark's sure I knew him back when we were kids.

I probably have. I was always with you guys.

I probably have. I was always with you guys.

Like I said, everyone thought they looked cool back then. So Mark asks Gareth whether he'll speak to me and... Hi, Chloe, how are you doing?

Like I said, everyone thought they looked cool back then. So Mark asks Gareth whether he'll speak to me and... Hi, Chloe, how are you doing?

The voice on the other end's a bit rougher than I expected, but it's also thoughtful and intelligent.

The voice on the other end's a bit rougher than I expected, but it's also thoughtful and intelligent.

Gareth tells me that for a long time he found it difficult to pin down the harm this relationship caused. He thought of himself as a lucky boy. But one day the relationship ended. The teacher just walked away. And when she did, his whole life fell apart. By the time he was 16, he was homeless, and by 23, he'd tried to kill himself several times.

Gareth tells me that for a long time he found it difficult to pin down the harm this relationship caused. He thought of himself as a lucky boy. But one day the relationship ended. The teacher just walked away. And when she did, his whole life fell apart. By the time he was 16, he was homeless, and by 23, he'd tried to kill himself several times.