Ex-Harrogate teacher to officiate former student’s weddingEx-teacher jailed for raping girl at Harrogate district school

A former maths teacher has been jailed for 18 years for raping and sexually assaulting a young girl at a boarding school in the 1990s.

John William Renel, 68, pinned the girl down and raped and indecently assaulted her in a locker room at Cundall Manor School near Boroughbridge, prosecutor Rupert Doswell told a jury at York Crown Court.

The victim, who can’t be named for legal reasons, didn’t report the matter to police until 2021, more than 20 years after the alleged sexual abuse.

She said that before the alleged rape at the fee-paying independent school, she and Renel were “joking about something” in the school kitchen when he picked her up and joked that he was going to “throw her in the bin”.

He then carried her out into the corridor and touched her on the thigh near an intimate part of her body, said Mr Doswell.

Mr Doswell added:

“He then took her into a side room – a changing room or locker room – where (pupils) hang their clothing.

“He put her down on the ground on her back. He was on top of her and she remembers him wearing a tweed jacket.”

She said she turned her head “to stare at the wall” as Renel allegedly raped her.

Read more:

A family member later noticed that the victim, who was very young at the time of the offences, had become withdrawn and in adult life she had developed post-traumatic stress disorder which led to counselling and therapy.

Mr Doswell said that about five months after the victim’s first police interview, she contacted them again about the incident in the school locker room.

She said she could remember that during the rape, she felt as if Renel’s “body (was) crushing her” and that she was struggling to breathe.

According to the victim, Renel “simply walked away” after the incident, “leaving her on the ground”.

Mr Doswell said:

“She (told police) she had one further memory of another incident (at the school) when she was older.”

She said that before this incident, Renel again picked her up and dropped her on a bed in a dormitory. 

He then laid down next to the victim, sexually assaulted her and then forced her hand onto an intimate part of his body. 

Mr Doswell said:

“Her next memory is of the defendant’s face close up to her.

“She remembers feeling terrified. He was staring at her and scowling. He told her not to tell anyone, before leaving the room.”

Guilty on all counts

Renel, of Main Street, Sessay, near Thirsk, was brought in for questioning in 2021 but denied even knowing the girl. 

He told police he had always taught in a tweed jacket but denied raping or sexually assaulting the girl. 

He was charged with one count of rape and four counts of sexual assault against the girl. He denied all offences but was today found guilty on all counts.

Recorder Anthony Hawks moved straight to sentence and jailed Renel for 18 years.

The former teacher was also placed on the sex-offenders’ register for life and made subject to a sexual-harm prevention order for the protection of children. That order will also run indefinitely.  

Following his sentence, Detective Constable Alison Morris, of North Yorkshire Police’s non-recent abuse investigation team, said:

“John William Renel is a predatory child abuser who has caused unimaginable trauma to the courageous victim in this case.

“I truly hope the outcome at court along with the significant custodial sentence handed to her perpetrator, provides comfort, strength and hope for the future.”

In 1997, a few years after Renel left Cundall Manor, he was convicted of three counts of indecently assaulting a girl at another school in Keighley. 

Much loved Harrogate headteacher retires after 18 years

Linda Mortimer, the executive headteacher of Saltergate Schools in Harrogate for the past 18 years, retired today.

Ms Mortimer has worked in primary education for 34 years and today the school said it would like to thank her for all her “hard work, positivity, dedication, devotion and resolve over the 33 years at Saltergate”.

As headteacher Ms Mortimer has seen the introduction of a children’s centre, gateways, nursery, and the atelier area at Saltergate.

More recently in 2015, she was instrumental in the process of federating Saltergate Infant and Junior schools.

Mark Walker, chair of governors, paid Ms Mortimer this tribute:

“As headteacher she has ensured that personal development at Saltergate Schools is exceptional and that pupils benefit from a happy, safe, and caring environment, in which each individual is respected and valued.

“She has always gone above and beyond to ensure that pupils have access to a wide, rich set of experiences and opportunities to develop their talents and interests.”

Deputy headteacher Judith Hollywood added

“The development of our challenging, stimulating, broad and balanced curriculum led by Mrs Mortimer has ensured it is accessible to all and brings out the very best in our children.

“She has always led by example and worked with everyone within the school community to achieve our shared aims enabling us to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.”

The school said Ms Mortimer will be missed and wished her all the very best for a “long, happy and healthy retirement”.

Former Harrogate headteacher denies making indecent images of children

A former Harrogate teacher has pleaded not guilty to two counts of making indecent images of children.

Matthew Shillito, 42, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates’ Court yesterday, September 23.

The two counts include 20 Category B images and 3,723 Category C images, made between December 3, 2012 and December 31, 2015.

A statement by North Yorkshire Police today said:

“We can confirm that Shillito was a teaching professional in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire at the time of the alleged offences.

“He was immediately suspended from his post when he was arrested in January 2020 and subsequently dismissed.

“Parents can be reassured that none of the alleged offences relate to his employment.”

Shillito was appointed headteacher of Harrogate’s Western Primary School in 2019.

He was previously headteacher across the Goldsborough Sicklinghall Federation of schools.

Shillito was remanded on conditional bail and the case was adjourned for trial at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court on March 4 2022.

Read more:

 

Harrogate teacher hopes for record contract with new single

A teaching assistant from Harrogate is releasing an original song in two weeks and hopes he will get a record contract.

Sam McKenzie, is a special needs teaching assistant at Rossett School with dreams of succeeding in music. His first single is called Souls Collide and will be released on February 2.

The 22 year old decided to pursue his talent four years ago after joining local dramatic society, Harrogate Phoenix Players. He found that he loved to sing and perform and began working on his voice.

After a few years of recording covers and posting them to Youtube his parents paid for him to have a recording session in Wetherby for his birthday. From that session the producer offered to help him record three singles under his record company, EBA records.

He said he wants to show his students that if you have a dream it can be achieved with hard work.

Mr McKenzie’s producer has set him a target of 500 downloads across his three singles with the prize being a record contract.

He says the song will resonate with people who may be missing loved ones during the pandemic.

Mr McKenzie has been overwhelmed by the support of his friends and family, who are yet to hear the full song. He hopes his music will encourage people “to stop and think”.

He added:

“I’ve always loved singing but when my record producer said I had talent it meant so much.

“This is the first project that I’ve been really proud of and I hope everyone loves the song.”

Read more:

The money raised from the downloads of his first single will be donated to two local causes. Half will go to Rossett School’s SEND department and the other to Harrogate Phoenix Players.

Mr McKenzie said both causes have supported him throughout his musical journey and pushed him to keep going.

His two further singles are yet to be recorded, Mr McKenzie says he will be back in the recording studio as soon as restrictions allow.

To hear a preview of the single, you can find Sam’s Youtube channel here.