Chloe Hadjimatheou

But you're angry with her for lying.

This is 2015 and by now Gareth's in his 40s. And after finally going to the police, he's not being believed. So now it's on him to prove he hasn't made the whole thing up. The police investigation begins consuming his empty days. He makes long lists of all the teachers he remembers. Each one, he's sure, can vouch for the fact that he had a thing with Miss Bowen.

This is 2015 and by now Gareth's in his 40s. And after finally going to the police, he's not being believed. So now it's on him to prove he hasn't made the whole thing up. The police investigation begins consuming his empty days. He makes long lists of all the teachers he remembers. Each one, he's sure, can vouch for the fact that he had a thing with Miss Bowen.

The police start calling round and speaking to dozens of teachers. Des Tinch, the head of year, who his mother spoke to. Heather MacIsaac, Miss Bowen's friend, who told him she didn't agree with the relationship. And lots of others. And each time they get hold of someone, they call Gareth to update him.

The police start calling round and speaking to dozens of teachers. Des Tinch, the head of year, who his mother spoke to. Heather MacIsaac, Miss Bowen's friend, who told him she didn't agree with the relationship. And lots of others. And each time they get hold of someone, they call Gareth to update him.

Keiner von ihnen ist bereit zu sagen, ich habe Gareth gesehen oder ich wusste, dass so etwas passiert ist. Es ist aber ein bisschen schwer, nicht wahr? Weil sie haben zu sagen, dass sie es gesehen haben und nichts gemacht haben.

Keiner von ihnen ist bereit zu sagen, ich habe Gareth gesehen oder ich wusste, dass so etwas passiert ist. Es ist aber ein bisschen schwer, nicht wahr? Weil sie haben zu sagen, dass sie es gesehen haben und nichts gemacht haben.

The police get hold of one teacher, William Roach, who tells them he remembers rumours going around the staff room about Miss Bowen and a student, but he can't remember the kid's name. And an English teacher, Mick Gray, says he remembers Miss Bowen as being very flirty and that there were lots of rumours going around the staff and pupils that there was something going on between her and Gareth.

The police get hold of one teacher, William Roach, who tells them he remembers rumours going around the staff room about Miss Bowen and a student, but he can't remember the kid's name. And an English teacher, Mick Gray, says he remembers Miss Bowen as being very flirty and that there were lots of rumours going around the staff and pupils that there was something going on between her and Gareth.

Mr. Grey hatte eigentlich nichts selbst beobachtet, außer an einem Ort am Ende des Termins, als Gareth und Miss Bowen beide im gleichen Pub waren. By then, Gareth says, Ms Bowen had become so brazen about their relationship, that in a final act on her last day at the school, she took him with her to end-of-year staff drinks. The couple sat at their own table in full view of a whole gang of staff.

Mr. Grey hatte eigentlich nichts selbst beobachtet, außer an einem Ort am Ende des Termins, als Gareth und Miss Bowen beide im gleichen Pub waren. By then, Gareth says, Ms Bowen had become so brazen about their relationship, that in a final act on her last day at the school, she took him with her to end-of-year staff drinks. The couple sat at their own table in full view of a whole gang of staff.

But when the police tried to find witnesses, everyone they spoke to claimed not to have been there. Now I'm working my own way down that list of teachers. Es ist nicht einfach. Manche haben ihre Namen geändert, nachdem sie verheiratet sind. Andere haben keinen Online-Footprint, oder sie sind gestorben. Und viele von denen, die ich finde, haben keinen Interesse daran, mit mir zu engagieren.

But when the police tried to find witnesses, everyone they spoke to claimed not to have been there. Now I'm working my own way down that list of teachers. Es ist nicht einfach. Manche haben ihre Namen geändert, nachdem sie verheiratet sind. Andere haben keinen Online-Footprint, oder sie sind gestorben. Und viele von denen, die ich finde, haben keinen Interesse daran, mit mir zu engagieren.

It's one thing for former pupils to say they don't want to be involved, but these are teachers, some of whom, like this guy, still work with children. I expected them to feel a certain responsibility to help with an investigation into potential child abuse that may have happened on their watch.

It's one thing for former pupils to say they don't want to be involved, but these are teachers, some of whom, like this guy, still work with children. I expected them to feel a certain responsibility to help with an investigation into potential child abuse that may have happened on their watch.

No problem. All the best. Gareth did try to prepare me for it, but still, the uniformity of the response took me by surprise.

No problem. All the best. Gareth did try to prepare me for it, but still, the uniformity of the response took me by surprise.

I mean, I think what's outrageous about it is how many. Oh yeah, mad. One or two. Heather MacIsaac would be a good one if you could get her to talk, by the way.

I mean, I think what's outrageous about it is how many. Oh yeah, mad. One or two. Heather MacIsaac would be a good one if you could get her to talk, by the way.

Heather MacIsaac. The only teacher who Gareth says ever confronted him back then. These days she teaches in Scotland. I managed to trace her through a hockey club she belongs to. And she tells me what she told the police a few years before, that even though she and Sally Ann Bowen were such good friends, she had absolutely no knowledge of the rumours.