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2 May 2017updated 04 Aug 2021 6:03pm

I saw my teacher convicted of child abuse. But why won’t the courts let the full story be told?

The courts are making it hard to report on child abuse in schools - and children will suffer the consequences.

By Alex Renton

In March, I saw the science teacher from my school in a Brighton courtroom, answering for crimes he committed against my friends 40 years ago. It was quite a moment. Very few people ever get to see a villain from their schooldays receive their deserved comeuppance; so I enjoyed Mr Haigh’s appearance in the dock doubly, for the ex-pupils of Ashdown House School and on behalf of all those kids bullied, humiliated and abused by adults who thought their power was absolute.

At the end of the four day trial Martin Luke Haigh was sentenced to 12 years in jail, more than those of us in court had bet on. The judge noted his arrogance and lack of any regret and ordered that at least two-thirds of the sentence should be served.

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