Chloe Hadjimatheou

Almost as soon as I start calling round, I hit a wall. And see if you might be able to help me a little bit.

Lots of people respond like this. Weird, but I keep going down the list of people I know. And then friends of friends, until I find Gavin. These days, the work he does helps the police in their hunt for paedophiles and sex abusers. It's something he feels passionately about, and that's why he's agreed to talk to me.

Lots of people respond like this. Weird, but I keep going down the list of people I know. And then friends of friends, until I find Gavin. These days, the work he does helps the police in their hunt for paedophiles and sex abusers. It's something he feels passionately about, and that's why he's agreed to talk to me.

Just like for Gareth, the young, good-looking chemistry teacher made a lasting impression on him.

Just like for Gareth, the young, good-looking chemistry teacher made a lasting impression on him.

And crucially, he remembers her going off with one boy in particular.

And crucially, he remembers her going off with one boy in particular.

And Gavin wasn't the only one who'd noticed.

And Gavin wasn't the only one who'd noticed.

Rumours are one thing, but what Gavin's telling me went beyond that. The relationship between Gareth and his teacher was on show, in plain sight. So there must be other witnesses, and some of them might know more. If I could, I'd get all the teachers and pupils in one room and ask them who knew what and when.

Rumours are one thing, but what Gavin's telling me went beyond that. The relationship between Gareth and his teacher was on show, in plain sight. So there must be other witnesses, and some of them might know more. If I could, I'd get all the teachers and pupils in one room and ask them who knew what and when.

Did they discuss the fact that it was illegal for an adult to have sex with a child under the age of consent? And did anyone try and stop it? It feels a bit like planning a school reunion for a bunch of people who don't really want to show up.

Did they discuss the fact that it was illegal for an adult to have sex with a child under the age of consent? And did anyone try and stop it? It feels a bit like planning a school reunion for a bunch of people who don't really want to show up.

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.