Members of staff at a residential school for boys committed "a multitude of sexual abuse" over a 30-year period, a court heard today.

Three former child care officers - Colwyn Baker, 70, David Hennessy, 73, and 61-year-old Nigel Putman - molested children at Swaylands School in Penshurst, it was alleged.

Baker also encouraged pupils to abuse each other, Maidstone Crown Court was told. The three face a total of 49 charges involving 24 boys.

Some pupils were allegedly tied up, forced to perform sex acts and take part in sick games.

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC said the Swaylands was a residential school for boys aged seven to 16 with moderate learning difficulties until 1989.

It was re-designated as a 60-pupil residential school for boys aged 11 to 16 with emotional and behavioural problems. It was closed down in 1993.

Mr Bennetts told the jury of seven men and five women that Baker was convicted in February 1994 of four offences of indecent assault and one of gross indecency involving three boys at the school.

Hennessy was convicted in December 1993 of four offences of indecent assault and two other serious sexual offences on one boy.

“The reason you hear of these convictions is not to create prejudice against the defendants but because, as you will appreciate, they deny they have behaved in the way you will hear the complainants describe,” said Mr Bennetts.

“As a result when you come to consider the evidence you will want to consider whether they possess a propensity to commit such offences, and if so whether that helps you to determine whether the complainants are telling the truth.”

"The atmosphere at the school at the time you are considering was one where abuse was almost the norm..." - Prosectutor Philip Bennetts QC

“You will hear accounts of a multitude of sexual abuse that occurred at Swaylands,” said Mr Bennetts.

“The atmosphere at the school at the time you are considering was one where abuse was almost the norm.

“Children who were abused were positively encouraged to abuse other pupils. Abuse and the ages of pupils abused led some to consider that there was nothing wrong with abusing other pupils.”

Mr Bennetts said Baker made a group of boys play a game in which they were tied to beds and toothpaste was smeared on their testicles.

One boy told how it burned and they were crying and screaming as Baker laughed. He claimed that he and two others were made to stay tied to the bed all night.

The former pupil added that Baker put a pillow over his head to stop him upsetting other boys with his screaming from the burning.

Another game Baker was alleged to have played was measuring boys’ genitals with a broom handle and piece of string.

“I remember he had a piece of string round his neck and he would use that and then chalk it to what size on the mop,” he said.

Mr Bennetts said Baker told another boy before molesting him: “Don’t tell nobody what I’m going to do... or you’re in trouble.”

When the boy protested and wept, Baker told him: “Just shut up. Don’t say nothing or you’re in big trouble.”

Another boy said Baker put his hand over his mouth to stifle his screams. He claimed Baker warned him: “If you tell anyone I’ll make your life a misery.”

He became so scared, he said, he stayed awake at night and slept in stairwells to avoid contact with Baker.

“It’s not worth crying. It won’t help you. It’s not worth telling anyone cos no one’s going to believe what you say anyway...” - What Baker allegedly told his victim

As a result he often fell asleep in class and it affected his learning. He was punished for dozing off and caned by the headmaster.

Mr Bennetts said Baker would wake a boy in the night and take him to his room. The child was told to have intercourse with Baker. It happened almost nightly for three years.

Another ex-pupil said he came to realise that watching television was an extra Baker would grant in return for sex acts.

Another boy claimed Baker abused him so many times, there were too many to mention.

When he stood up to Baker, he said he was beaten with his head being smashed on a work surface, and privileges were withheld.

Hennessy liked photography, carrying a camera with him and taking pictures of the boys.

A boy claimed Hennessy touched him indecently and told him: “It’s not worth crying. It won’t help you. It’s not worth telling anyone cos no one’s going to believe what you say anyway.”

One boy who was in the scouts run by Baker called him a paedophile while camping and told him to get out of his tent. The boy also “belted” him with his fist.

An investigation was launched after two former pupils complained separately about alleged abuse. The probe revealed allegations covering 1963 to 1993.

Baker was employed at the school from May 1967 until his suspension and arrest in January 1993.

Hennessy was employed from March 1969. He resigned in April 1977 but was re-employed in April 1979.

Baker, of Morningside, Edinburgh, denies 22 charges of indecent assault on a male, one of indecency with a child and three other serious sexual offences.

Hennessy, of Westfields, Narborough, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, denies 18 charges of indecent assault on a male, one of indecency with a child and one other serious sexual offence.

Putman, of Kings Road, Slough, Berkshire, denies three charges of indecent assault on a male.

The trial, which is expected to last three months, continues tomorrow.

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