Chloe Hadjimatheou

They don't talk anymore, and Freddie didn't want to be involved in this podcast. One evening, back in the late spring of 1988, Philip has just come home from work when Freddie says he needs to talk to her. There are rumours going round the school, he tells her. I was worried sick. So she waits for Gareth to get home and asks where he's been.

He says what he always says, that he's been with his mates in Hendon, but she's not having any of it. Was she shocked that these rumours were going around?

He says what he always says, that he's been with his mates in Hendon, but she's not having any of it. Was she shocked that these rumours were going around?

So you stopped talking to your mum and you pulled away from her?

So you stopped talking to your mum and you pulled away from her?

That's why these rumours ring true for Philippa. Gareth's been acting distant, avoiding her and staying out after school. Until now, she's always put that down to teenage hormones.

That's why these rumours ring true for Philippa. Gareth's been acting distant, avoiding her and staying out after school. Until now, she's always put that down to teenage hormones.

Desmond Tinch, Gareth's maths teacher. Tall and thin, with a no-nonsense kind of attitude, but most boys think he's a pretty decent guy. He's been counselling Gareth each week in his office, trying to help this bright boy reach his potential. So he seems like the obvious person for Philippa to call. What would you have said to him, do you think?

Desmond Tinch, Gareth's maths teacher. Tall and thin, with a no-nonsense kind of attitude, but most boys think he's a pretty decent guy. He's been counselling Gareth each week in his office, trying to help this bright boy reach his potential. So he seems like the obvious person for Philippa to call. What would you have said to him, do you think?

I can believe that staff might not have had time to bother with every little rumour circulating round the playground. But this is different. From what Gareth's former classmate Gavin remembers, this is all happening in plain sight. For anyone paying attention, it's obvious.

I can believe that staff might not have had time to bother with every little rumour circulating round the playground. But this is different. From what Gareth's former classmate Gavin remembers, this is all happening in plain sight. For anyone paying attention, it's obvious.

And anyway, now a concerned parent is asking the school to investigate because she thinks there might be something to the rumours about her son and this teacher. You would imagine this would set off alarms, activating some kind of formal process, you know, internal procedures, that kind of thing.

And anyway, now a concerned parent is asking the school to investigate because she thinks there might be something to the rumours about her son and this teacher. You would imagine this would set off alarms, activating some kind of formal process, you know, internal procedures, that kind of thing.

But Philippa says when she does finally manage to talk to Mr Tinch, he tells her he isn't concerned about Miss Bowen and Gareth. He says there's something else he wants to investigate. What did Mr Tinch tell you? He said, do you think he's on something? Mr Tinch advises Philippa to check whether Gareth's on drugs.

But Philippa says when she does finally manage to talk to Mr Tinch, he tells her he isn't concerned about Miss Bowen and Gareth. He says there's something else he wants to investigate. What did Mr Tinch tell you? He said, do you think he's on something? Mr Tinch advises Philippa to check whether Gareth's on drugs.

He's just been told a member of staff may be having sex with a child and his response is to bat it back and ask if that child is doing something illegal. But Philippa's desperate to understand what's happening to her son, so she latches on to this. Maybe Mr Tinch is right. Her son's hostile behaviour, the lies, staying out late, these could all be signs he's on drugs.

He's just been told a member of staff may be having sex with a child and his response is to bat it back and ask if that child is doing something illegal. But Philippa's desperate to understand what's happening to her son, so she latches on to this. Maybe Mr Tinch is right. Her son's hostile behaviour, the lies, staying out late, these could all be signs he's on drugs.

And she came straight away late on the Friday night. Dr Ferris has her medical bag with her and takes out a syringe.

And she came straight away late on the Friday night. Dr Ferris has her medical bag with her and takes out a syringe.

The medical note Dr Ferris took that night provides one of the only pieces of hard evidence I've seen from the time. It says, in a typical doctor's scrawl, school called mother thought Gareth might be having an affair with female teacher. Now, according to Philippa, it was her that called the school and the doctor got mixed up when she jotted it down in a hurry.