WATTS AND WEST FROM GISLINGHAM AND SOUTHAMPTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD CRUELTY AT OAKWOOD SCHOOL

In a recent court hearing, two former staff members of Oakwood School located in Stowmarket, identified as Gerald West and Michael Watts, received sentences of conditional discharges after they pleaded guilty to charges related to child cruelty. The court proceedings revealed disturbing allegations of physical abuse that spanned over two decades, from the 1970s through to 1999, involving approximately 20 boys who were under their care.

During the trial, it was detailed that the abuse included violent beatings and force-feeding, acts that caused significant distress and harm to the young victims. The court heard that these incidents, which were described as isolated breaches of trust, occurred in a context where the offenders’ training and support systems were found to be inadequate, possibly contributing to the severity and frequency of the abuse.

While West and Watts faced consequences for their actions, the court also sentenced the school’s former headteacher, Eric De Smith, to seven years in prison for sexually abusing boys in his care at Oakwood School. The case has brought to light a dark chapter in the history of the institution, raising questions about oversight and safeguarding measures during that period.

These revelations underscore the long-lasting impact of abuse and the importance of accountability within educational and caregiving environments. The court’s decision aims to serve justice for the victims and to highlight the need for vigilance against such misconduct in the future.