Russell Tillson, sentenced for sexually abusing two pupils at Tonbridge School, Kent

Russell Tillson was convicted last month of sexually abusing two pupils at a prestigious boarding school, Tonbridge School in Kent.

Tillson has now been sentenced to five years and eight months at Maidstone Crown Court for offences that took place in 1984 and 2001, meaning the abuse spanned over almost twenty years.

Following the sentencing Detective Constable Josh Gearing from Kent police acknowledged that,

“Sex offenders like Tillson wreak incalculable damage on their victims, many who will suffer in silence for years, or throughout their whole lives.”

He went on to say that,

“Today’s sentence will not take away the traumas they were made to ensure as children, but it will hopefully bring some closure.”

It is noted that Tillson held a senior role at the school teaching economics and as head of sixth form, assisting pupils with their university applications.  As such he had an influence over pupil’s future educational aspirations with Detectives stating that Tillson exploited his influence to make advances on victims.

Sadly, abuse can often have a devastating impact on survivor’s lives and I hope that Tillson’s conviction and sentence assists his victims in achieving some recognition and closure. However, in situations like this his survivors of abuse may also want to consider bringing a civil claim against the School.  In my experience civil claims can help survivors to hold institutions, as well as individuals to account for the abuse they allowed to continue and also help ensure they obtain vital funds to access treatment and support their journey to recovery.