HEREFORD MAN DENNIS EAGLES SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR DECADES OF ABUSE AT WESSINGTON COURT SCHOOL

In a landmark case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Hereford, Dennis Eagles, a 73-year-old former headmaster, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 12 years for a prolonged period of sexual abuse spanning over a decade. The heinous crimes took place at Wessington Court School, a boys' boarding institution that operated until its closure in 1983, and which was known for accepting troubled youth sent by local authorities.

During the trial at Worcester Crown Court, it was revealed that Eagles, a bachelor and ex-RAF sergeant, had systematically preyed on young boys as young as eight years old. His method of operation involved sneaking into the boys' dormitories under the cover of darkness to fondle them. In some instances, he would lure victims to his study, where he subjected them to sexual acts, including forcing them to engage in sex with him or perform sexual acts on each other. The court heard that Eagles' predatory behavior was both calculated and persistent, lasting for approximately ten years.

The victims, now adults in their 20s and 30s, bravely came forward to testify about how the abuse had profoundly affected their lives. Among those who provided evidence was a man who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment at the age of 17. Now 31, he described how his dependence on Eagles during his time at school left him feeling lost and broken after leaving the institution. He stated, “I became totally dependent on Eagles at school, and when I left I was totally lost. It’s kids like us who have suffered all our lives.”

Following a comprehensive 10-day trial, Eagles was convicted last month on multiple counts, including six charges of buggery, six counts of gross indecency with a child, and seven counts of indecent assault. Throughout the proceedings, Eagles maintained his innocence, denying all charges against him.

The allegations against Eagles surfaced as part of the North Wales child abuse inquiry, which was triggered when a victim accused the school’s housemaster, Patrick Duggan, of abusing him. As investigators sought to identify and interview former pupils of Wessington Court School, which was known to have enrolled approximately 30 troubled boys during its operational years, further allegations emerged against Eagles. Duggan, aged 49, was also convicted last month after an appeal, receiving a 10-year sentence for 17 sex offences committed against boys. The revelations have cast a long shadow over the community of Hereford and have prompted widespread calls for justice and accountability for the victims.