By Diana Prince
Plymouth Evening Herald
September 6, 2007
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A former Roman Catholic school pupil who helped to convict the teacher who repeatedly sexually assaulted him has told his harrowing story and urged other victims to speak out.John, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, said the abuse he suffered at the Devon boarding school between the ages of eight and 14 has ruined his life.
Now an adult, he gave vital evidence in the trial of Paul Couch, pictured right, who was last week jailed for 10 years and nine months for a catalogue of offences on boys aged under 13 between 1972 and 1993.
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Couch, aged 61, of Wyndham Street West, Plymouth, was sentenced at the city crown court after being convicted of two counts of serious sexual assault and 11 counts of indecent assault while at the school, which has since closed and cannot be named for legal reasons.
John said he still has flashbacks and nightmares about that time, when Couch assaulted him during swimming lessons and sailing trips.
"He took away my childhood," John said. "He has ruined my life. The memories of the abuse I suffered at his hands will be with me forever."
Three of the 11 counts of indecent assault the former teacher was convicted of related to John. He called Couch a 'predator' who built up a trust with him and his parents through the school and his position there.
"On the outside he came across as a nice, caring, kind person but underneath that he has a secret personality," John said.
"He would always do it when no one else was around.
"If you withdrew he would become quite aggressive and frightening. He came across as very angry, very powerful, I think to install fear in a younger person.
"There was no escape from him. The school was effectively my home, which made it even worse. He dominated my life."
During the trial, the court heard Couch taught religious studies and English and was involved in sport and extracurricular activities.
At the time, John was afraid to come forward as he thought no one would believe him.
"I did think it was unusual but at that age you are not aware of things like you are when you are an adult," he said. "All the people around are following that faith and you think they are good people. Your parents say they are all good people. You feel very small and isolated."
John said after leaving the school he found it impossible to carry on education and his experiences have deeply affected his relationships.
"Even my wife doesn't know certain things that went on," said John, who is now married with children.
"It has always played on my mind for many years; caused many problems. I've effectively not been able to go to school since the age of 13 or 14. I'm unable to trust anybody in that environment.
"I've not been able to get a normal job and this led to crime."
While remanded in jail in 2004, John told a prison chaplain he had been sexually abused at the school. The revelation sparked the police investigation that eventually led to Couch's conviction.
"It was difficult to take that very first step but it had reached a point in my life where I had to bring it out and deal with it," John said.
"It's a shameful thing to talk about it but it did make me feel better to let people know.
"Nearer to the trial I found out I wasn't the only one, which made me feel both good and bad. I felt there was more chance of him being convicted."
John said the outcome was worth the experience of giving evidence and having to face Couch in the courtroom.
During the trial, Couch said the accusations were "totally without truth" and he was sometimes tactile because boys can need "a father figure".
John said: "It was horrible standing in a room going through horrendous details of what went on and being accused of making it up. But, at the end, all the negative thoughts about the trial went away when I heard about the conviction."
On sentencing Couch, Judge Paul Darlow said he was a "sexual predator" and had committed a "gross breach of trust". The former teacher was also put on the sexual offenders' register for life and disqualified from working with children.
John added that he would like to see more support from the Roman Catholic church for the support of the case's victims.
He hopes his story will encourage others who have experienced abuse to contact the police.
"People need to be aware that if they come forward, as horrid as it can be, it's a good step to take and the police do investigate and, where possible, bring these people to justice," he said.
"In my experience, they did a brilliant job."
John now hopes to try to rebuild his life, gain an education and a job with which he can support his family.
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