Richard McDonald

[Pupil199095]

His wife Michelle used to massage me regularly in dorm 1994/95 mid b. I understand he was jailed but cannot find anything online. Can somebody please furnish me with this info. Thank you

[Bob]

His wife Michelle used to massage me regularly in dorm 1994/95 mid b. I understand he was jailed but cannot find anything online. Can somebody please furnish me with this info. Thank you

He was jailed for about a year but found not guilty. He returned as headmaster of Aiglon College and is still there.

[DazedandConfused]

The rumour was that it was a domestic issue rather than accusations involving pupils. But, as Bob said, he wasn’t convicted and is still head teacher now.

[AMP]

His wife Michelle used to massage me regularly in dorm 1994/95 mid b. I understand he was jailed but cannot find anything online. Can somebody please furnish me with this info. Thank you

Why was his wife regularly massaging you in the dormitory?

In my day, which wasn't that long before yours, I think you went to the sicker and got a physio referral, but I can't remember.

[Otter]

He wasn’t convicted and is still head teacher now.

Which I have no opposition to.

Those who are convicted and are proven to have done things deserve everything they get, but the system also catches out people who are factually innocent or against whom there is no proof of any wrongdoing, whose lives and reputations are irrevocably changed.

There was recently a teacher who was falsely and maliciously accused of offences against a pupil. It was proven to be a complete fabrication in revenge for giving bad grades or something, and the case against him was dismissed. But the teacher recently lost an appeal to have the charge removed from his enhanced DBS check, rendering him forever unemployable in his chosen profession.

Or my brother-in-law, a taxi driver, who one night refused an extremely intoxicated and aggressive passenger. In revenge at being refused a ride, she reported him for rape. My BIL had CCTV in his cab, which showed everything. Yet the police still arrested him in front of his family and told his employer. When the CCTV was viewed, he was released with no further action, but also no apology. The accuser was never punished and it remains a crime to name her. This shows up on his enhanced DBS check and the chief constable won’t remove it. He was also refused entry to the US to attend the funeral of a close relative.

“Innocent until proven guilty” is a myth in our justice system. It’s the other way round, and sometimes when innocence is categorically proven (beyond just “not guilty”), you are still considered guilty by the police and the DBS, who never, ever, accept when they have made a mistake.

[DazedandConfused]

He wasn’t convicted and is still head teacher now.

Which I have no opposition to.

Those who are convicted and are proven to have done things deserve everything they get, but the system also catches out people who are factually innocent or against whom there is no proof of any wrongdoing, whose lives and reputations are irrevocably changed.

There was recently a teacher who was falsely and maliciously accused of offences against a pupil. It was proven to be a complete fabrication in revenge for giving bad grades or something, and the case against him was dismissed. But the teacher recently lost an appeal to have the charge removed from his enhanced DBS check, rendering him forever unemployable in his chosen profession.

Or my brother-in-law, a taxi driver, who one night refused an extremely intoxicated and aggressive passenger. In revenge at being refused a ride, she reported him for rape. My BIL had CCTV in his cab, which showed everything. Yet the police still arrested him in front of his family and told his employer. When the CCTV was viewed, he was released with no further action, but also no apology. The accuser was never punished and it remains a crime to name her. This shows up on his enhanced DBS check and the chief constable won’t remove it. He was also refused entry to the US to attend the funeral of a close relative.

“Innocent until proven guilty” is a myth in our justice system. It’s the other way round, and sometimes when innocence is categorically proven (beyond just “not guilty”), you are still considered guilty by the police and the DBS, who never, ever, accept when they have made a mistake.

You’re right. I’m not sure anyone recovers from allegations of that sort.

[LHA]

To be fair Richard McDonald was acquitted. No idea how the system works in Switzerland but it is important to note that the matter was widely publicised, and he has since returned to being a headteacher for many years.

RE Michelle MacDonald. That is very concerning and must have been awful. Please consider reporting this. There will be loads of support. There's also an email for the police if that's easier.

 Our dedicated email address – safeguarding@christs-hospital.org.uk – which is staffed by a small team of specialists who can respond to your concerns or pass them on to the relevant authorities. All approaches will be dealt with sympathetically and in complete confidence.
 Sussex police can be reached on 01273 470101.

[richardb]

There is something about it here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews ... roval.html


It must be made clear that: (I) it had nothing to do with pupils at the school; and (ii) he was found not guilty of all charges.

[richardb]

Otter,

Your brother in law's position is very topical as it raises the question of how those accused of rape should be treated.

I have the misfortune to live and practise in an area served by a Police and Crime Commissioner who is a zealot and demands that every allegation of a sexual offence is prosecuted irrespective of the merits of the case. Not so long ago a number of very experienced police officers were disciplined for not proceeding with cases and demanded that something like 32 cases now be prosecuted. After they had all been tried something like 31 of the 32 were acquitted, tending to suggest that the officers were right not to prosecute in the first place.