Four ex-teachers at top private school charged with historic child sex offences

Alleged attacks on pupils at Christ's Hospital School in Horsham, West Sussex, date back almost 40 years

Christ’s Hospital School is providing its ‘full support’ to police with investigations

Four former teachers at a leading independent school have been charged with a catalogue of historical sex offences dating back nearly 40 years.

The men, who taught at Christ's Hospital School in Horsham, West Sussex, were told on Wednesday that they had been charged.

The alleged attacks on 15 suspected victims, both male and female, took place between 1980 and 1996, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Gary Dobbie, 66, is charged with seven counts of indecent assault on a male, one count of attempted indecent assault on a male and three of indecent assault on a female.

James Husband, 67, faces four counts of rape and five of indecent assault on a female.

Peter Webb, 74, is charged with six counts of indecent assault on a male.

Ajaz Karim, 62, has been charged with nine counts of indecent assault on a female and one of attempted indecent assault on a female.

Jayne Cioffi, senior crown prosecutor in the CPS South East’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said the men will appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 9 August.

Christ’s Hospital charges boarders up to £31,500 a year and counts Sir Barnes Wallis, inventor of the bouncing bomb, and poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge among its former pupils.

The school was founded in the 16th century and its pupils still wear a Tudor-style uniform of a long blue coat and high yellow socks.

In a statement, the school said: “Christ's Hospital is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its pupils and continues to provide its full support to the police in their investigations.

“We would always encourage anyone who has been a victim of abuse to come forward. As criminal proceedings are active, we are unable to share any further information at this time.”

Press Association