A LANDMARK radio documentary about the crimes of jailed teacher Alan Morris has won Gold at the prestigious New York Festivals.

Former St Ambrose College pupil David Nolan made a documentary 'The Abuse Trial' for BBC Radio 4 back in January.

It focuses on the case of Alan Morris, the former deacon who was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2014 for a string of sexual abuses carried out on St Ambrose schoolboys between the 1970s and early 1990s.

The programme features interviews with victims, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as recordings of Morris's police interviews.

It was presented by former journalist David, produced by Jo Meek and Sale resident and fellow former pupil, Phil Maguire, acted as executive producer.

The PRA Productions documentary was named Gold Radio Winner in the Information/Documentary competition at the New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards on Monday June 21.

Following the win, David said: “Being an international award, the New York Festival is a very big deal.

“It shows that the story - people in authority turning a blind eye to children in danger - touched a nerve with a wider audience. Most of the interviews were recorded in Altrincham, but we also travelled to the Outer Hebrides to talk to an ex-pupil who has moved as far away from the area as possible after what he went through at St Ambrose.

“Myself and executive producer Phil Maguire were both at the school and we've both been contacted by many ex pupils since the programme was broadcast on Radio 4 in January. It would be nice to think that maybe people in positions of authority have learnt something for the whole business. We'll see.”

David, 51, forfeited his right to give evidence at Morris’ trial in order to produce an ITV documentary and compile victim accounts and trial details for his book ‘Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil’.

The Granada documentary went on to win Best Story at the Royal Television Society Awards.