A boarding school headmaster who sipped sherry as he watched naked boys in the showers has been jailed for 11 years.
Former headteacher Frank Skipwith, 81, of Eynsham, Oxfordshire, watched the sons of diplomats and army officers in the showers at Fernden Preparatory School in West Sussex, as he drank alcohol.
He indecently assaulted boys as young as six who were left in his care by their high-flying parents.
A former pupil at Fernden school described how he was abused in his bed after being beaten with a slipper on his bare buttocks in the head master’s office.
On two occasions, Skipwith performed oral sex on his victims in their dormitory beds after lights out.
Former boarding school headmaster Frank Skipwith outside Hove Crown Court
Following a second trial at Lewes Crown Court in Hove, Skipwith was told he will spend at least half of an 11 year sentence in prison.
The court heard Skipwith abused 11 boys at two different private boarding schools over a 12 year period.
He maintained his innocence during both trials, forcing his victims to give evidence in front of a jury.
At his first trial in 2020, Skipwith was found guilty by a jury on 22 counts of sexual abuse of boys as young as six-year-old.
The jury at his second trial in December last year found Skipwith guilty on another five counts of abuse against boys when he was headmaster at Crossfields School, Reading.
Skipwith listened using a hearing aid in the dock at Hove as Her Honour Judge Christine Henson QC told him each one of his victims had to live with the consequences of his abuse every day.
‘Two involve you performing oral sex on boys in the dorm, in their beds after lights out,’ HHJ Henson said.
‘The victims’ statements speak of the life-long impact your offending has had on them.
‘Anxiety, loss of self esteem and mistrust of authority.’
Skipwith committed prolonged offending over two different educational establishments, the judge said.
‘It’s clear you have continued to demonstrate no insight or remorse for the effect your offending has had on your victims then and now,’ Judge Henson said.
She described Skipwith as an opportunist who carried out much of his abuse in dormitories in front of other boys.
‘You were in a position of trust being a figurehead. There was no avenue of complaint, it was you who was in charge.
Skipwith was the head master at Fernden described as a small, fee-paying, independent preparatory school for boys in Haslemere, Surrey from 1979.
READ RELATED: Early Stages of Human Development may Provide Insights for Better Infertility Treatments
Fernden Preparatory School in West Sussex closed in 1985 for financial reasons and has now been converted into residences
The boarding school was founded in 1907 and educated the sons of diplomats and army officers
One former pupil paid tribute to the bravery of the men who came forward to report abuse by Skipwith.
‘I remember witnessing things at Fernden School which I now recognise as systematic grooming,’ he said.
‘I am so pleased that after all these years that Frank Skipwith has been brought to justice.
‘It took a huge amount of courage for the many people involved in this case to speak up about their experiences both to the police and then in court.
‘Way too many many people have experienced sexual violence in the formative years of their lives, only a very small proportion of these are reported, and even fewer lead to successful prosecutions.
After Fernden closed, Skipwith went on to become head teacher at Crossfields School in Reading (pictured) where he stayed until 2000
‘This verdict sends the message that people who use their position of power to abuse children, whoever they are, however long ago it happened, can be held to account.’
During the first trial Toby Fitzgerald for the Crown told the jury Skipwith was responsible for the welfare of the children as the school.
‘A devoted family man, to all appearances, he could sound both kindly and charming. Perhaps the model of a country school master to all appearances,’ Mr Fitzgerald said.
Fernden was founded in 1907 and closed in 1985 for financial reasons. Skipwith lived in a flat next to the dormitories with his wife and three sons who were among the 100 pupils at the school.
Hove Crown Court (file picture) heard Skipwith indecently assaulted 11 boys in his care
The former headmaster described his night time visits to the dormitories as pastoral care.
Pupils told police how he would watch ‘intently’ as they showered at the school near Haslemere in Surrey.
Mr Fitzgerald said: ‘He would have a glass of sherry or wine while supervising the showers.
‘He would use alcohol to enhance his enjoyment of looking at the boys in the shower.’
After Fernden closed, Skipwith went on to become head teacher at Crossfields School in Reading where he stayed until 2000.
Skipwith has been in custody since March 2020 and will be 85-years-old before he is eligible for release.
Source:
