ALAN MORTON AND THE DARK PAST OF WICKLEWOOD AND GREAT FINBOROUGH'S SCHOOL SCANDAL

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local communities of Wicklewood and Great Finborough, Alan Morton, formerly known as Alan Brigden, has been sentenced to five years in prison for heinous sexual offenses committed over three decades ago. The crimes, which took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s, involved the abuse of two young boys and are part of a broader investigation into the dark history of St George’s School, a now-closed institution with ties to prominent boarding schools in Suffolk and Norfolk.

At the time of the offenses, Brigden was employed as a teacher at a boys’ boarding school in Sussex, where he was involved in the education of young boys. However, his criminal activities extended to his time at St George’s School, which was initially located in Wicklewood near Wymondham in Norfolk before relocating to Great Finborough, near Stowmarket in Suffolk. Brigden, who is now 67 years old and residing in Amsterdam, was extradited from the Netherlands in January following a lengthy police investigation into the school’s history. This inquiry was notably intensified after the conviction and imprisonment of Derek Slade, the former headmaster of St George’s, who was sentenced to 21 years in 2010 for sexually and physically abusing pupils.

During the court proceedings, Brigden admitted to multiple serious charges, including four counts of assault with intent to commit buggery, four counts of indecency with a boy under 14, and six counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14. Judge Rupert Overbury, presiding over the case, described Brigden’s actions as a gross breach of trust, emphasizing the severity and betrayal involved in his crimes. The judge also acknowledged Brigden’s cooperation in pleading guilty, which spared his victims the additional trauma of reliving their experiences in court. Brigden’s history of teaching also includes positions at prestigious institutions such as Charterhouse and Marlborough College.

Prosecutor Jan Brewer detailed the disturbing nature of the offenses. She explained that in 1977, while Brigden was teaching at a school in Sussex, he took a boy and two other boys on holiday to the Lake District. During this trip, Brigden engaged in inappropriate behavior by groping the boy over his underwear and taking photographs. The victim, feeling uncomfortable, slapped Brigden’s hand away and later confided in the school matron upon returning. The abuse did not stop there. By 1979, Brigden had adopted the surname Morton and was working at St George’s School in Wicklewood. There, he befriended an 11-year-old boy and took him on a ten-day train journey across England and Wales. During this trip, Brigden sexually assaulted the boy every night while they slept on the train, causing the young victim significant distress. The boy later expressed that he did not like what was happening and wished to go home, describing the experience as a series of nightmares. Evidence recovered from Brigden’s home in Amsterdam included clothing belonging to the victim, such as school shorts and PE shorts with his name sewn on, further corroborating the allegations.

Defense attorney Nicholas Bleaney, who appeared in court in a wheelchair due to Parkinson’s Disease, argued that Brigden had not reoffended since the incidents in question. The court acknowledged Brigden’s health issues but emphasized the gravity of his past actions. Following the sentencing, one of Brigden’s victims issued a heartfelt statement, describing the profound and lasting impact of the abuse on his life. He recounted how, as an 11-year-old, he was vulnerable and already subjected to severe abuse under Derek Slade’s regime. The victim expressed feelings of manipulation, shame, and fear, which prevented him from speaking out at the time. Now, at 43, he hopes to begin healing and rediscover joy in life, free from the shadows of his childhood trauma.

In a related development in June 2012, Brigden, also known as Alan Morton, pleaded guilty to 14 sex assault charges, including indecent assault, gross indecency, and assault with intent to commit serious sexual offenses, all committed during his tenure at St George’s School. The school, which has since closed, was the focus of a wider police investigation into historical abuse. Brigden’s extradition from Holland was part of this ongoing inquiry, which also implicated other former staff members. Detective Inspector Adrian Randall of Suffolk Police highlighted that Brigden’s crimes spanned over 35 years, demonstrating that time and borders would not prevent justice from being served. Randall expressed hope that victims would find some solace in the court’s decision, knowing that their abuser had been held accountable.

This case follows the conviction of Derek Slade in 2010 and the tragic suicide of Alan Williams, another former teacher at St George’s, who took his own life after being arrested on suspicion of sexual offenses in the 1980s. The legacy of abuse at St George’s School remains a dark chapter in the history of educational institutions in the region, with ongoing efforts to uncover the full extent of the misconduct and provide justice for the victims involved.