BHAGABHAI MISTRY SHAMES EDGWARE SCHOOL AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON PUPILS IN HACKNEY

On November 13, 1992, a disturbing case unfolded involving Bhagabhai Mistry, a deputy head teacher at a primary school in Hackney, who was subsequently sentenced to nine months in prison for a series of sexual assaults on young pupils. The allegations spanned over a period of nearly eight years, during which Mistry, a man of 52 years with a bearded and bespectacled appearance, exploited his position of authority to commit these heinous acts.

Many of the victims, who were predominantly from Turkish ethnic backgrounds, endured persistent harassment and indecency at the hands of Mistry before finally finding the courage to report their experiences. Their complaints came after years of suffering, with some victims now aged 16, providing detailed testimonies about the abuse they endured as early as when they were just eight years old.

The court proceedings revealed that Mistry’s misconduct took place between 1984 and July 31 of the previous year. Despite vehemently denying all charges, the jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court convicted him of 11 counts of indecent assault. One charge involving a 10-year-old girl during 1990 was dismissed, with the jury acquitting him of that particular allegation.

During the sentencing, Judge Geoffrey Grigson emphasized the purpose of imprisonment in cases like this. He stated, “What is the purpose of a prison sentence? There are two. First, any teacher who abuses his position as you did is deterred from doing it again. Second, it is to punish you. Those children were entrusted to you and you abused that trust. You deliberately chose children who were especially vulnerable and those who had just arrived in this country. You caused children real unhappiness and confusion in their minds.”

As Mistry was led away from the courtroom, his wife, Mrs. Mistry, was visibly distressed, screaming her husband's innocence and pointing at the judge and legal counsel. The case was initially brought to light in July of the previous year, prompting an investigation by the Child Protection Team based at Stoke Newington police station. Over thirty pupils were interviewed during the initial phase of the inquiry.

Police officers, led by Police Sergeant ‘Mo’ Mattu, and school staff involved in the prosecution, received the court’s thanks for their efforts. The prosecution, led by Mrs. Patricia May, detailed how Mistry persisted in a pattern of sexual harassment from September 1984 through June of the previous year. Witnesses described how the assaults were often carried out in a surreptitious and opportunistic manner, targeting vulnerable children, many of whom faced language barriers and social disadvantages.

Mrs. May highlighted that most victims belonged to ethnic minorities, particularly from the Turkish community, suggesting that Mistry may have believed these girls were less likely to report his misconduct due to their background and language difficulties. Testimonies from the victims painted a disturbing picture: one 16-year-old girl recounted how, at the age of eight, Mistry would run his hand up and down her thighs when she approached his desk for her work. Another girl claimed she saw Mistry touching a fellow pupil inappropriately in the school corridor. Several other pupils described incidents where Mistry stroked their thighs, touched their breasts, or placed his hands around their buttocks during or after class.

One particularly distressing account involved a girl described as “well developed” for her age, who was kept behind after class by Mistry, who then placed his hands around her waist and commented, “You’re a big girl, aren’t you?”

Following a series of complaints in June last year, a Turkish language instructor contacted the police, leading to Mistry’s arrest and subsequent trial. Throughout the proceedings, Mistry maintained his innocence, asserting that he never improperly touched any of the girls. He claimed to have been teaching at the school for several years without prior allegations.

His defense lawyer, Mr. Richard Atchley, a teacher with three decades of experience and fluency in five languages, described Mistry as “finished,” noting that he had been dismissed from his position after the allegations surfaced. Mr. Atchley emphasized the shame and devastation that the conviction had brought upon Mistry and his family, including his wife and two sons, who supported him during the trial. The lawyer also pointed out that Mistry was a man crushed by the accusations and the verdicts, suffering profound personal and social consequences as a result of the case.