BERNARD HAUNCH FROM EAST GRINSTEAD AND SUTTON JAILED FOR LIFE OVER CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a case that has shocked the local communities of East Grinstead and Sutton, Bernard Haunch, a former teacher, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of a series of heinous sexual offences committed against two young children during the 1970s and 1980s.

Haunch, aged 72 at the time of sentencing, was a French teacher at the now-closed Fonthill Preparatory School located on Coombe Hill Road in East Grinstead. The offences for which he was convicted include four counts of rape, two counts of buggery, and three counts of indecent assault, all involving a girl aged between 7 and 11 years old, with incidents spanning from 1975 to 1979. Additionally, he was found guilty of an indecent assault on a boy aged between 7 and 11, committed sometime between 1980 and 1983. It is noteworthy that Haunch had previously pleaded guilty to separate charges of indecent assault and gross indecency involving the same boy.

Following a detailed two-week retrial at Lewes Crown Court, Judge David Rennie handed down a severe sentence, requiring Haunch to serve a minimum of 20 years before being eligible for parole. The court also mandated that he remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life, reflecting the gravity of his crimes.

Among the most disturbing aspects of Haunch’s offending was his involvement in arranging and participating in a gang rape of the girl on the floor of the school’s consecrated chapel. It was also revealed that Haunch was a member of the Paedophile Information Exchange, an organization known for its controversial stance on child abuse, which he claimed was merely a discussion group.

Haunch, who now resides at Marlins Close in Sutton, south London, was arrested in February of the previous year. He was subsequently charged with a total of 18 offences five months later. During the legal proceedings, he admitted to two charges but was found guilty of an additional ten.

The investigation was initiated after the now-early 40s female victim came forward to police, revealing her traumatic experiences. Her testimony prompted authorities to trace the allegations back to Haunch, leading to his arrest. Detective Constable Dani Flude of the West Sussex Police child protection team stated, “Both victims suffered in silence at the hands of this systematic abuser, who took advantage of his status to subject them each to years of abuse. They have both been very brave in supporting this prosecution.”

During the initial trial, it was disclosed that Haunch had sought help from a paedophile support group before his teaching career at Fonthill. He admitted to being “mesmerised” by the boy he abused but claimed innocence regarding the allegations involving the girl. Court reports indicated that Haunch had no interest in females, stating his focus was solely on boys under 14 who had not yet shown signs of puberty. His disturbing pattern of abuse and association with known paedophile groups have been central to the case’s severity and the subsequent sentencing.