More child abuse allegations against Catholic school

Police are investigating allegations against staff made by two former pupils at St Benedict's School in west London.

One of the two arrested was 68-year-old former headmaster Father David Pearce. He is currently serving five years in prison after admitting 10 indecent assaults and one sexual assault on five boys between 1972 and 2007.

The monk retired in 1993 but continued to live in the adjacent abbey, enabling him to abuse one further victim despite being on restricted duties because he had lost a civil case brought by another victim.

A 71-year-old man is also on bail and an 80-year-old man is being investigated but has not been arrested.

The pupils came forward after reading an article about Father Pearce in the Times newspaper.

Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests president Barbara Blaine commended them for going to the police.

"It's tempting, but dangerous, for victims to contact church officials, and much better to contact secular officials," she said.

"It's hard for any abuse victim to speak up, but especially hard for those victimised in a Catholic school setting, in which many fear their confidentiality might be compromised."

Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Carlile QC, the government's adviser on counter-terrorism law, will head a child abuse inquiry at the school.

It will scrutinise an independent schools inspectorate report that noted six sets of allegations against former staff at St Benedict's. The report criticised continued shortcomings in school policy, including monks being allowed to remain living in the abbey while facing allegations.