Chloe Hadjimatheou

Staring right at him, Gareth says she doesn't flinch. It's impossible to tell what she's thinking. But Gareth can't stop.

Staring right at him, Gareth says she doesn't flinch. It's impossible to tell what she's thinking. But Gareth can't stop.

In December 2023, the panel retires to consider the evidence. The panel's made up of three people. There's a teacher and there are two other members of the public who've handled complex investigations before. When they're ready, they call all the participants for a final video call to announce their findings. Gareth's testimony is consistent and convincing, they say.

In December 2023, the panel retires to consider the evidence. The panel's made up of three people. There's a teacher and there are two other members of the public who've handled complex investigations before. When they're ready, they call all the participants for a final video call to announce their findings. Gareth's testimony is consistent and convincing, they say.

And it's more likely than not that Sally-Ann Bowen did meet Gareth outside of school and that she allowed him to visit her at her home and that she did engage in sexual activity with him. The only allegation they're not convinced of is that she bought him alcohol in a pub.

And it's more likely than not that Sally-Ann Bowen did meet Gareth outside of school and that she allowed him to visit her at her home and that she did engage in sexual activity with him. The only allegation they're not convinced of is that she bought him alcohol in a pub.

Sally-Ann Bowen's obliged to be present for the entire finding, but when it becomes clear which way things are going, she gets up and walks away from her laptop.

Sally-Ann Bowen's obliged to be present for the entire finding, but when it becomes clear which way things are going, she gets up and walks away from her laptop.

The Teaching Regulation Agency bans Miss Bowen from the profession indefinitely. It's a really big deal. And what's striking about it is how categorical they are in their finding. Especially when you consider that almost all the panel had to go on was two competing accounts. He said, she said. Just like me, they found Gareth's account believable.

The Teaching Regulation Agency bans Miss Bowen from the profession indefinitely. It's a really big deal. And what's striking about it is how categorical they are in their finding. Especially when you consider that almost all the panel had to go on was two competing accounts. He said, she said. Just like me, they found Gareth's account believable.

The detail, the consistency in his story and the fact that he doesn't always put himself in a favourable light. It's a huge vindication for Gareth after so many years of being doubted. All those teachers who said they didn't know what went on back then or that Sally-Anne Bowen wouldn't have behaved that way. Well, it's made their positions a lot more difficult.

The detail, the consistency in his story and the fact that he doesn't always put himself in a favourable light. It's a huge vindication for Gareth after so many years of being doubted. All those teachers who said they didn't know what went on back then or that Sally-Anne Bowen wouldn't have behaved that way. Well, it's made their positions a lot more difficult.

And then I called.

And then I called.

It wasn't finished because stuck in Gareth's mind was what that guy on the tube had told him, that he wasn't the only one. When Sally-Ann Bowen was banned from teaching by the TRA, a few local papers reported the story and it went viral among former Christ College boys. Lots of guys in his year were pretty sure Gareth was the victim because the rumours were so widespread at the time.

It wasn't finished because stuck in Gareth's mind was what that guy on the tube had told him, that he wasn't the only one. When Sally-Ann Bowen was banned from teaching by the TRA, a few local papers reported the story and it went viral among former Christ College boys. Lots of guys in his year were pretty sure Gareth was the victim because the rumours were so widespread at the time.

But other former Christ College students just saw references to Pupil A, as he was known in the tribunal, and a few of them told me they were all messaging each other trying to guess who it might be. I've spent the last year calling as many of them as I could find, some scattered as far as Australia, Holland and the US.

But other former Christ College students just saw references to Pupil A, as he was known in the tribunal, and a few of them told me they were all messaging each other trying to guess who it might be. I've spent the last year calling as many of them as I could find, some scattered as far as Australia, Holland and the US.

What I was hoping is that they'd give me a name, the name of the lucky boy that the guy on the tube was alluding to. But it turns out there isn't a name. There are lots and lots of names of boys who were rumoured to be having sex with Miss Bowen. And the guy on the tube, he could have been referring to any one of them. But one guy in particular kept coming up.

What I was hoping is that they'd give me a name, the name of the lucky boy that the guy on the tube was alluding to. But it turns out there isn't a name. There are lots and lots of names of boys who were rumoured to be having sex with Miss Bowen. And the guy on the tube, he could have been referring to any one of them. But one guy in particular kept coming up.