Alleged sexual abuse at Maidwell Hall

Earl Spencer, the younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, attended Maidwell Hall in Northamptonshire in the 1970’s. It is a boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 4 to 13.

In an extract from his memoir which has been published in the Mail on Sunday, he alleges that he was sexually abused as a child there by a female member of staff who was employed as an assistant matron at the school. He says that the abuse began when he was aged 11 and describes the woman as a “voracious paedophile” who groomed and abused him and other young boys in their dormitory beds at night. He went on to say that “she chose one boy each term to share her bed and would use him for intercourse.”

The school have issued a statement that it was “sobering to read about the experiences Charles Spencer, and some of his fellow alumni, had at the school, and we are sorry that was their experience. It is difficult to read about practices which were, sadly, sometimes believed to be normal and acceptable at that time. Within education today, almost every facet of school life has evolved significantly since the 1970s. At the heart of the changes is the safeguarding of children, and promotion of their welfare. Although we have not directly received any claims from ex-pupils, considering what has been reported, the school has followed the statutory process and made a referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). We would encourage anyone with similar experiences to come forward and contact either Maidwell Hall, the LADO or the police.”

Jordans solicitors are acting on behalf of vulnerable children and young adults whom it is alleged were abused in at boarding and day schools. We have a long history of successfully pursuing claim relating to abuse in these types of institutions.