
A FORMER GORDONSTOUN pupil is lodging a compensation claim over historic abuse he claims had ruined his life.
John Findlay described his ordeal at the prep school Aberlour House as the cause of post-traumatic stress disorder, saying that it was directly attributed to his being drugged and abused by former teacher Derek Jones in 1990.
Mr Jones died six years ago and was never prosecuted after giving assurances that he would never teach again. However, he did go on to teach at other schools after being sacked from his post in Moray.
Mr Findlay said that he is now pressing ahead with a criminal injuries claim – with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority saying that prosecution is not always required for such a claim to be considered.
Mr Findlay told the Sunday Mail: “The only reason why a prosecution was not pursued by my family is because we were given assurances by the school that Jones would never teach again. I recently found out that was not the case – Jones did go on to teach at other schools after he was sacked by Gordonstoun.
“I was 12 years old when I was drugged and sexually assaulted by Jones – who also took indecent photographs.”
The Sunday newspaper reports that Gordonstoun did state it was Aberlour House’s intention that Jones would not teach again and steps had been taken to add him to the registered offenders’ list.
A spokesperson for the school is quoted as saying: “It was awful to learn recently that Jones was able to hide his past and teach again abroad.”