Teacher facing sex charge hanged himself

People facing sex abuse charges should not be named publicly unless they are convicted, a coroner said yesterday at an inquest into the death of a headteacher accused of a sex offence who killed himself, fearing his career was ruined.

John Matthews, the Isle of Wight coroner, said he had no doubt that Alastair Wilbee, 47, could not face the stigma of having his name linked to such a crime. Mr Wilbee, well-respected and married, with two teenage children, disappeared from home the night before his local newspaper was to publish a report that he had been charged with indecently assaulting a boy.

He strenuously denied the charge, but his widow, Gail Whiting, said he had been humiliated, and was convinced that he was condemned from the moment the allegation was made. Two months later he was found hanging from a tree at Cowleaze, near Shanklin, a mile from his home.

Mr Matthews recorded a verdict of suicide and said: "There is something very difficult about sexual offences, the stigma remains with a person for ever whether there is an acquittal or if charges are withdrawn. I have no doubt the situation came to a head when Mr Wilbee heard in court for the first time that the report would be in the local paper. For some time, those 'victims' alleging sexual offences have had their anonymity protected by law. The view to allow publicity for defendants in this type of case is held so other 'victims' can come forward. I have to say it does not seem a suitable view."

The inquest was told that the headteacher had been accused of assaulting a boy during a school trip. He was suspended from Summerfields primary school in Newport in May 2003.

He made an attempt to take his own life on the same day but was discovered. Later in the same week he disappeared from home but was returned by police. Three months later he was charged and attended his first court hearing where he indicated he would plead not guilty.

Mrs Whiting, 48, has always insisted there was a "simple explanation", and that a caring action he had taken to comfort a child had been misconstrued. She told the hearing that her husband's character changed after he learnt that the allegation was to become public, he got a "glazed look and became very quiet". She added: "He was totally devastated. His world had collapsed. He became very anxious and felt he couldn't go on teaching and obviously that his standing in the community would be drastically changed."

Mr Wilbee's GP, Dr John Rivers, said in a statement that his patient was "plainly a broken man" who felt his career was "undermined".

Mrs Whiting said her husband began organising the family finances so they and their children, Ben, 19, and Katie, 16, would be able to afford to live if he was unable to continue as a teacher. He then left their home in Shanklin but, believing he needed space, she did not report him missing until the day after. His body was found by a walker in October last year.

Mrs Whiting, who is also a teacher, told the inquest: "If [my husband] had been given anonymity he may have found strength in the positive and continuing support he was receiving from family and friends, his school community and professional colleagues."

A Home Office spokesman said yesterday: "While we do appreciate the stress suffered by those accused after being identified, the criminal justice system works on the basis of an open court, and we are not minded to change the law."

Anonymity for defendants in sex offence cases was withdrawn in 1988, but there has been much debate over the issue recently, provoked by cases such as that involving the television presenter John Leslie, who was pilloried in the press before charges of indecent assaults were dropped.