PHILIP BATTON'S REIGATE AND HAVERFORDWEST HORROR: EX-TEACHER'S DECADES OF CHILD ABUSE REVEALED

In May 2016, a disturbing case of long-standing child abuse came to light involving Philip Batten, a former teacher and headmaster whose actions have left a trail of trauma and heartbreak. Batten, aged 70, was convicted of heinous crimes committed over a span of more than a decade at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School, located in Reigate, Surrey. His crimes, which included the rape and physical assault of six young boys, have shocked the community and cast a dark shadow over the institution.

According to court proceedings, Batten engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior that lasted approximately 11 years. He would often lure vulnerable boys into his circle by offering them alcohol or inviting them to a clandestine club called “The Cherries.” Within this secretive environment, he would subject the boys to sexual games, some of which involved filming the abuse. The court heard that Batten would also visit the boys in their dormitories, further violating their sense of safety and trust.

Judge Neill Stewart, presiding over the case at Guildford Crown Court, expressed the gravity of Batten’s actions, stating, “The court cannot undo the grotesque harm you have caused.” Victim impact statements revealed the profound and lasting effects of the abuse. One former pupil, now an adult, shared that he had struggled with depression and ultimately took his own life at age 41 after revealing his trauma to his mother. His mother described him as “a happy child” before his personality changed dramatically due to the abuse.

Other victims recounted their pain, with one stating, “There is no pill to dampen the psychological ripples that have traversed my life,” and another expressing a desire for just one night of forgetfulness, free from the memory of the “monster living at the end of the hall” who ignored their pleas of “no.”

During the trial, prosecutor Siobhan Molloy detailed Batten’s violent and sadistic tendencies. She recounted incidents where Batten had beaten a pupil and caused another boy to sustain a head injury after throwing a blackboard eraser. The court also heard that Batten maintained an exclusive group of pupils, whom he called “The Cherries,” to whom he would give alcohol and subject to sexual acts, including oral sex. Molloy emphasized that Batten’s more brutal acts targeted those he considered “lesser types,” who were not part of his elite group.

Defense attorney Michael Haynes acknowledged Batten’s participation in a sexual offences program, describing his client’s crimes as “detestable, abhorrent, reprehensible,” and a “betrayal.” Batten, who was seen waving to his family as he was led away to the cells, resides in Wood Lane, Stogumber, Somerset. The court also revealed that Batten faces civil charges related to his conduct.

Judge Stewart underscored the severity of Batten’s betrayal, stating, “There is no sentence I can pass that can reflect the impact this has had on the victims.” He highlighted that Batten’s victims were particularly vulnerable, some being children of service personnel stationed overseas, others from troubled backgrounds. The judge described Batten’s entry into their dormitories as akin to invading their homes, noting that he sometimes acted with other adults and used alcohol and drugs during these assaults. Filming of some abuse incidents was also alleged.

He condemned Batten’s breach of trust, emphasizing that as a headmaster, he was entrusted with the children’s safety and well-being but instead chose to groom and manipulate them for his own gratification. The court described Batten as a “sexual predator” who had operated for over 30 years, attempting to evade justice for most of that time. The judge concluded by stating, “The court cannot undo the grotesque harm you have caused.”

In a related case from the same period, Batten admitted to over 20 charges of historic child abuse, including indecent assault, buggery, and cruelty to children under 16. These charges stemmed from his tenure at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School from 1971 to 1984, involving more than 15 victims. Prosecutor Siobhan Molloy described Batten’s systematic abuse, which included threats and sadistic acts involving objects like broom handles and Coca-Cola bottles, as well as filming some of the incidents.

It was also revealed that Batten would “cherry pick” boys for grooming, inviting them to his flat late at night for drinks and abuse. One victim recounted how Batten would remove towels to watch children dry themselves, then proceed to touch and fondle them. Batten admitted to having “cherries” but denied engaging in anal sex during police interviews.

His history of convictions includes a previous guilty verdict in April 1989 for sexual abuse of children and a 1999 conviction for nine charges of indecent assault, for which he received a three-year sentence. The ongoing trial continues to shed light on the extent of his crimes and the profound impact on his victims, many of whom are now in their late 40s and early 50s, but forever marked by the horrors they endured at the hands of Philip Batten.