Gordon Fleming Admitted 35 Counts Of Indecent Assault Against Young Girls in the 1970s and 80s

A woman who was abused by her primary school teacher as a child has spoken of her relief after her abuser was finally jailed for a string of historical sex offences against young girls at schools in North Wales.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, says she is now determined to move on with her life with the help of expert abuse lawyers at Irwin Mitchell who have been supporting her through the proceedings.

In April, Swansea Crown Court heard that Gordon Fleming, from Oswestry, Shropshire, abused two dozen children over a six-year period in the 1970s and 80s.

In August, the 66-year-old pleaded guilty to indecent assault against 11 girls under the age of 13 while teaching at primary schools in North Wales, meaning that he has now pleaded guilty to 35 counts of indecent assault against young girls.

At a hearing in April where Fleming pleaded guilty to 24 counts of indecent assault , Judge Geraint Walters told him to expect a “significant prison sentence”, before going on to say: “You have admitted systematically sexually abusing no less than 24 young girls who were in your trust at the time.

“This represents a serious breach of trust for a junior school teacher abusing so many young girls.”

Fleming, who had previously been convicted of similar offences, at Chester Crown Court, appeared at Swansea Crown Court today for sentencing where he was given 10 years imprisonment and registered as a sex offender.

The survivor, who is now in her forties, was abused around the age of 10 whilst a pupil near Aberystwyth. 

The abuse she suffered had a significant impact on her life and has affected her relationships with her husband, family and children. She has also experienced repeated nightmares and flash backs throughout her life since the abuse.

She said: “I am relieved that Fleming pleaded guilty and spared me and other survivors the pain and distress of a protracted court case. While it cannot change the past, I am glad we have now seen justice done and hope that it will go some way to giving us the peace to move on with our lives.

“I hope that by speaking out, others who have suffered abuse by those who were supposed to be in a position of trust will feel they can come forward and that justice can be done, even after so many years.”

The woman is now working with specialist abuse lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to secure a settlement to fund access to the professional help and support she requires to cope with the terrible ordeal she suffered at such a young age.

Expert Opinion

Many people who suffer sexual abuse as a child can be affected by the ordeal for the rest of their lives and their experiences can have a significant impact on the way they develop as an adult and how they live.

“Through our work we deal with cases, such as this one, where children were targeted by the people who they should have been able to trust.

“This woman has been extremely courageous to speak out about the abuse she suffered and we hope that what happened to her, and others, by Gordon Fleming will encourage organisations to learn from the past and implement every possible measure to protect vulnerable young people in the future.

“I also hope the knowledge that Gordon Fleming has been jailed will encourage others who have survived his abuse to come forward and be heard.

“We are now representing one such survivor and hope to secure a settlement to ensure she is able to access the therapy and support she needs to come to terms with what happened and make progress with her life." Peter Lorence - Senior Associate Solicitor

The court heard Fleming was jailed for several years at Chester Crown Court in 1992 for charges of a similar nature while he was headmaster at a village school near Welshpool, North Wales.

The charges Fleming admitted in April relate to an earlier time when he was teaching at another primary school in North Wales.

Dyfed Powys Police launched an inquiry after several of his pupils reported what happened to them while they were in his classroom. Officers appealed to girls he taught at the school between 1976 and 1981 and charges were brought in respect of 24 of his former pupils.

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in helping survivors of abuse.