BRUCE ROTH FROM CROWTHORNE AND KING’S SCHOOL SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF ABUSE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the educational community and the public alike, Bruce Roth, a former housemaster at some of Britain’s most esteemed schools, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for a prolonged campaign of sexual abuse spanning over two decades. Roth, aged 46, was found guilty of sexually assaulting five young boys during this period, with his predatory actions taking place at different prestigious institutions, including Wellington College in Berkshire and King’s School in Kent.

Roth’s heinous misconduct included sneaking into the dormitories of Wellington College, a school renowned for its £30,000-a-year tuition, to molest sleeping pupils. His abuse was not limited to this institution; he was also convicted of assaulting two eight-year-old boys at King’s School, a Kent-based school where he previously worked before his tenure at Wellington College. The court heard that Roth, a maths teacher described as ‘highly manipulative,’ had performed sexual acts on some of his victims and had even encouraged one of them to perform similar acts on him.

The investigation into Roth’s conduct initially began at King’s School in Rochester, where he worked from 1987 until 1994. Relatives of two pupils reported concerns about his behavior, leading to an internal inquiry. However, Roth was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing at that time after a teacher decided that the case was a matter of his word against that of a pupil. Despite this, Roth’s pattern of abuse persisted, and it was only after one of his victims contacted the children’s charity ChildLine and reported the abuse that he was finally arrested in October 2010.

Throughout the trial, Roth vehemently denied all allegations, claiming that his accusers were conspiring against him because they disliked him as a teacher. He even went as far as to label one of the victims a ‘fantasist’ with a ‘sinister’ side, attempting to discredit their testimonies. Nevertheless, after a month-long trial at Reading Crown Court, the jury found Roth guilty of 17 counts of sexual offenses against children. As the verdict was read, Roth, dressed in a smart grey suit and tie, appeared stunned, shaking his head in disbelief. In the public gallery, a woman was heard sobbing as the guilty counts were announced.

Prosecutor Daniel Fugallo detailed the extent of Roth’s abuse, stating, ‘Over a period of 20 years, from the late 1980s through to 2009, he exploited his position of trust as a teacher by touching five boys in his care for his own sexual gratification. These boys were between the ages of eight and 15 at the time of the offenses, and they are now men in their late 20s and 30s.’

As part of the trial process, the jury was taken on a tour of Wellington College, which is headed by Tony Blair’s biographer Anthony Seldon. The visit aimed to show the corridors and dormitories where the victims alleged they were abused. Following the sentencing, Mr. Seldon expressed his disgust, stating he was ‘sickened and appalled by his employee’s vile crimes.’ He emphasized that the staff at Wellington College work tirelessly to protect and nurture pupils, and that Roth’s actions represented a profound betrayal of trust. Seldon confirmed that the school responded immediately by suspending Roth and reporting the allegations to the police and social services, working closely with authorities to ensure thorough investigation and evidence gathering.

Wellington College boasts a notable alumni list, including broadcaster Peter Snow, comedian Rory Bremner, pop star Will Young, and journalist Sebastian Faulks. King’s School’s former pupils include prominent figures such as ex-Conservative cabinet minister John Gummer and former Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong.

The court also heard disturbing details from Roth’s victims. One victim, years after the abuse, contacted Roth via Facebook to ask if he was a paedophile, recalling how Roth had touched his groin. The victim described Roth’s earlier punishments, which involved making boys strip to their underwear, run laps, or lie on their backs to memorize constellations. Another former pupil recounted how Roth would enter his dormitory in the middle of the night, sit on his bed, and carry out his vile acts while telling him not to move. The trauma was so severe that one victim later attempted to take his own life.

Police analysis of Roth’s computer revealed that he had searched for ‘teen boy sex’ on a search engine, further evidence of his predatory behavior. During sentencing, Judge Simon Davis described Roth as a ‘plausible, intelligent man’ capable of manipulation. The judge noted that Roth’s crimes at Wellington College may have been influenced by his previous exoneration at King’s School, suggesting he carefully selected his targets and exploited his position of trust.

Roth had denied all 17 charges against him, which included four counts of indecent assault on a male under 16, four counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and six counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. The incidents spanned from 1987 to 2009, covering his time at both schools, and his actions have left a lasting scar on his victims.