Ex-Wade Deacon school pupil wins legal claim over Michael Wilde abuse

The victim, who is protected by lifelong anonymity and wished to remain anonymous, won a five-figure sum in damages settled by Halton Borough Council.

Michael Wilde started working as a teacher at Wade Deacon Grammar school for boys in Widnes in 1971, responsible for chemistry lessons and PE, and he was employed there for 38 years before retiring in 2009.

Wilde, of Drake Close in Old Hall, has now been convicted of 22 offences of sexual abuse in the 1970s at Wade Deacon and jailed on five separate occasions.

In September 2015, Sam Robson, of RobsonShaw solicitors, was approached by a former pupil of the grammar school who was taught by Wilde.

He described him as having an extremely short fuse, with physical punishment common in lessons, and that there were always rumours that you had to watch out for him, with it being ‘seemingly common knowledge that Wilde was an odd man’.

Sam’s first victim of Wilde described sexual abuse which took place during PE lessons, including inappropriate touching while helpless using a pull-up bar.

The client had already reported the incident to Cheshire Police, which led to Wilde’s conviction for historic indecent assault in 2015.

The ex-pupil was then compensated by Halton Borough Council, the local authority then responsible for the school, due to the principle of vicarious liability.

The sexual abuse occurred at Wade Deacon school in Widnes

After this initial case, Sam represented a number of other former pupils of Wilde who then came forward with very similar allegations.

The predator was sentenced again in 2019 and 2020 for sexual offences, with all cases following a similar pattern.

Sam’s most recent Wilde victim came forward to the police in 2020, with the defendant returning to prison for a further two years on June 15, 2022, after admitting three counts of indecent assault.

The client described numerous incidents of sexual abuse during PE lessons, involving inappropriate touching and becoming aroused watching young boys in communal showers.

Speaking about his experience, he said: “I think that an adult who preys on innocent children for their own sexual gratification is one of the lowest forms of depravity – if not the lowest.

“They are only concerned about their sexual needs, and it does not even enter their heads what long-term damage and suffering they cause their victims.

“He deserves every prison sentence he has had, and I hope more of his victims find the courage to come forward after reading this, because it is never too late and I know there are dozens and dozens more of his victims out there.

“I am more than happy with the result. Why? Because I felt like a great burden had been lifted off my shoulders, and now I can go about my daily life and have no thoughts of him in my head.

“The police were absolutely brilliant with me. Two police officers came to see me, I gave them a statement, and I was told I had a strong case which could lead to a prosecution.

Wilde has been jailed on five separate occasions at Liverpool Crown Court

“I was kept informed about how the case was going and not once did I feel like I was wasting anyone’s time.”

On this latest settlement, Sam added: “The abuse had a major impact upon him, ruining his school life and altering the course of his childhood.

“He had always wanted to join the Army, but failed to achieve his ambition as he became so disenchanted with school and dropped out of college.

“My client really wanted to share his story as he witnessed Wilde abusing numerous other children during PE lessons.

“He described Wilde as a prolific abuser and he felt strongly that other former pupils of the school should be encouraged to come forward to the police.

“He was unable to discuss what happened at the time through his own shame and embarrassment, and he also thought he would be disbelieved.

“As a result, he says that he ‘bottled it up’, and that affected his mental health.

“He comments that he found the process of coming forward and ‘getting it off his chest’ has helped him come to terms with Wilde’s abuse when he was powerless to prevent it.”

Halton Borough Council was approached to comment on the outcome of the civil case.