On the 9th June 2020 we found out that the former caretaker at the children’s first primary school had been charged with 21 offences in relation to children. I have not been able to write anything as I didn’t want to hinder the court case, but today he was sentenced; he only got 5 years! No parent should have to go through this; the guilt, the anger, the disgust. He fooled us all. I am grateful I got to hug them tight throughout homeschooling, it comforted me for that period of time to know they were safe at home.
On the 9th June 2020, I was sent a link to a news article from another parent, saying did I know about it. Of course I didn’t until I read the article. Mr Wixcey, the caretaker of 10 years at the school my kiddies attended from nursery until year 3. Half of his employment as the caretaker at that school I knew him. Parents and children alike loved him! He was the most helpful person. Always smiling, happy and stopping to talk. He helped me set up Noah’s birthday party, he looked after the kiddies if I was late to pick them up from kids club… he was first aid officer at the school and he was often left to his own devices around the building. He filmed all the school performances. I never thought anything of it, he was the caretaker after all. He helped with the after school clubs when they were busy, helping with the swimming pool parties and sports clubs… around children all day everyday.
I feel a lot of things right now, mainly guilt that I didn’t protect my children enough, even though I couldn’t of done anything. I feel angry that I didn’t see the signs and that families, some of which I will know, have gone through an ordeal that no family should ever go through. I have some anger towards the school too, as not ONCE did they say or do anything about this until after it was released in the news after 9th June 2020. The investigation started 2 years prior to that, we knew nothing. That makes me feel sick to my stomach that the safeguarding officer from the school thought it best not to say anything at all. In fact, there was jubilation and celebration for Mr Wixcey’s retirement, with a big send off and people showering him with cards and gifts. I actually bought him a gift and the kiddies made a card for him!
I have been assured that all families, where children are IDENTIFIABLE, from the footage found on his devices have been contacted. So, that gives me some comfort, however I still haven’t questioned the kiddies about this. I don’t know where to start.
What has he been charged with?
These are the facts from the news report:
- Sexual assault on a girl under 13 (he touched her inappropriately whilst administering first aid)
- 80 indecent images on 1 laptop, with a lot of them being classed as CAT A images (the worst kind you can think of)
- Several videos of children getting undressed at his home (which he used for personal gratification)
- 849 still images taken from 2 videos, where he had hidden a camera in the receptions toilets
- An indecent video taken whilst he administered first aid to a girl
- 2 more indecent photos taken of pupils from the school found on his laptop
- Image stills taken from further videos where he had secretly filmed children getting changed in classrooms
He pleaded guilty to 19 out of 21 charges in July. He was charged today with those 19 counts. I called the court at 4:30pm to get the official sentencing and they told me the following:
Counts 1-3 sexual assault on a girl under 13
Counts 4-11 indecent images
Counts 12-21 Voyerism (this is the secret filming he did)
He was sentenced to 5 years based on counts 1, 4-21. Counts 2 and 3 are to lie on file, which means he isn’t serving jail time for them. Lie on file means that these charges could be reinstated at a later date, it also means the other charges are usually more serious. He also has a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. I know he won’t serve 5 whole years, he will only do 2/3rds. This doesn’t help with my angry feelings.
So, as I say in my title: he had us all fooled. The man we trusted to look after our kids after school, supervise the swimming parties and take care of them in the first aid room had been secretly filming the children and using the footage to please himself. I am devastated. He was the caretaker for goodness sake, the title even includes the word care! He didn’t. He is a predator. This is the kind of story that you think will never effect you, but sadly I hear about more and more cases like this! This post is to help all of those that have some questions and also for me to let off some steam. This is just my thoughts and feelings on how it has effected me. However, I do hope that when he gets out of jail everyone will know what he has done and what harm he caused our community!
Always brings shudders to my body reading this kind of stuff
What an awful thing to have happened at your children’s school. I feel very strongly that with this sort of allegation (and with rape allegations), the person should be suspended until after the trial. I know that someone is deemed to be innocent until proven guilty, but in sexual abuse cases there is too much risk of further wrongdoing, not to mention the mental anguish suffered by victims if they are forced to see the accused carrying on as normal. As you say, the school knew for 2 years and did nothing. The sentences are also far too lenient.
This is so sad and shocking!
Sorry to hear this,i really eel schools should do detailed back ground checks on all staff x
omg that must of been absolutely awful and sickening. I remember when Ian Huntly the care taker was charged with the murder of Holly and Jessica. At the time It was awful because I went to that same school as did one of my sons. We trust these people with our children and then these awful things happen to them.