ROLAND MIDGLEY FROM SOUTHAM SENTENCED TO OVER THREE YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN WARWICKSHIRE SCHOOLS

In a recent development in a long-standing case of historical sexual abuse, Roland Midgley, a retired teacher from Southam, Warwickshire, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison following his conviction for multiple counts of indecent assault. The offences, which took place during the 1980s at Kineton High School, have brought to light disturbing allegations against the former educator, who was once a respected figure within the school community.

Midgley, aged 72 and residing on Warwick Road in Southam, faced a trial at Warwick Crown Court where he was charged with four counts of indecent assault involving two boys. The allegations stemmed from incidents that occurred while he was employed as a woodwork teacher at Kineton High School, a position he held from 1967 until his retirement in 2000. During the trial, Midgley pleaded not guilty to all charges, asserting his innocence.

After nearly five hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on one count related to a boy who was 13 at the time of the assault. Following this, the jury took an additional hour to convict Midgley of two offences involving another boy, who was 12 and 13 years old during the incidents. However, they acquitted him of one charge concerning the same individual. The court heard that the offences involved fondling and inappropriate conduct that took place within the confines of the school premises.

During the sentencing hearing, Midgley's legal representative, Lee Masters, requested an adjournment to allow his client to make necessary arrangements, acknowledging that a custodial sentence was inevitable. The judge, Recorder Nicholas Syfret QC, declined to order a pre-sentence report, stating that such a report would not provide additional relevant information for determining the appropriate length of the sentence. The judge emphasized that the evidence and circumstances already presented made it clear that Midgley would face imprisonment.

In addressing the court, the judge reaffirmed that a custodial sentence was unavoidable, and Midgley was granted bail overnight pending sentencing. The court noted that the offences occurred during the 1980s, a period when Midgley was a prominent figure at Kineton High School, where he also served as head of years one and two. The victims' testimonies revealed that the abuse was carried out over a period of time, with one victim explaining that he only reported the matter many years later after a social media discussion about the school in the 1980s brought memories flooding back.

One of the victims recounted feeling anger and distress upon recalling the incidents, which prompted him to seek support from a help organization before ultimately reporting the abuse to the police. The second victim had previously made a police complaint in 1999, but at that time, Midgley was not charged. It was only during subsequent investigations into the allegations that the case was reopened, leading to the current conviction. Prosecutor Graeme Simpson highlighted that the case had remained dormant for years before new evidence prompted legal action, ultimately resulting in Midgley's conviction and sentencing.