Sexual abuse at Castle Hill School

Castle Hill Independent Special School was a privately owned residential school which opened in Ludlow, Shropshire in 1981 and was approved by the Department of Education in 1984. It was boys only and registered for a total of 37 pupils most of whom came from Somerset, Warwickshire and London. 

The principal and co-owner of the school was Ralph Morris. 

Between 1987 and 1989, 4 separate allegations of sexual abuse were made by pupils against Morris. The police took no further action in relation to one complaint. Another complained to a visiting trainee residential social worker but the complaint was dealt with internally by the school and was withdrawn following pressure by Morris. Another named other pupils who he said would support his allegations but when interviewed they denied any knowledge of the abuse. In 1989 after the 4th complaint was made the police and social services commenced an investigation into the earlier complaints. The school closed in 1989. The investigation interviewed 106 young men and concluded that Morris had sexually abused 43 boys at the school between 1984 and 1989. 

The investigation resulted in Morris being charged with and then convicted in 1991 of specimen counts relating to the sexual abuse of young men between the ages of 10 and 17 who had attended the school. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. It also came out that Morris had given himself false academic qualifications in the school brochure.  

John Anthony Duggan was also employed by the school as a senior teacher.  It is understood that he had been dismissed by another special school following allegations of sexual misconduct with pupils at that school. There were however no convictions, and he was able to move on and work at other schools. He was convicted of the indecent assault of a former pupil and perverting the course of justice at Stafford Crown Court in 1992. He was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment.  

The subsequent investigation into abuse at the school found that previous complaints had largely been dealt with by individual authorities who were not aware of other similar allegations. It also confirmed that Morris used fear to control the pupils at the school.  

By the time of the investigation there were over 60 residents at the school. The investigation found that when the Department of Education were due to visit groups of boys would be moved out of the school and beds would be dismantled and hidden. Pupil records were poorly kept or altered to help hide the number of pupils. 

Ralph Morris died in prison in or around 1996 although claims in relation to non-recent sexual abuse may still be successful years after the event in particular if the person was involved in the criminal proceedings against him. 

Jordans solicitors are acting on behalf of vulnerable children and young adults whom it is alleged were sexually abused in schools including Castle Hill School. 

Compensation is a small step towards taking control of your life and getting the justice you deserve.

We understand how difficult it can be for you to talk about the abuse you suffered during your childhood. That’s why our specially trained child abuse solicitors work closely alongside psychologists and barristers to support you both emotionally and legally.

Justice for child abuse survivors should be accessible no matter how long ago it happened. That’s why we fought for a landmark change in the law, which allows an abuse claim to be brought before a court regardless of when it took place.

If you want to discuss the options that are open to you, please contact our specialist Abuse Team at Jordans Solicitors.