25 Aug 2010 01:54:12
“A Young Man's Passage” become a bestseller in a Julian Clary's schooldays, but the attraction of the Metropolitan Police wasn’t ran into debt.
Mandrake hears that detectives investigating new allegations of child abuse at one of Britain's top Roman Catholic schools are keen to speak to the comedian about his years as a pupil there.
It can be disclosed that Father David Pearce, a former teacher at St Benedict's School, in Ealing, who was convicted last year of abusing eight pupils, features in Clary's book.
Referred to as "Father Fox", he is described as "a smiling, somewhat fey, monk", who was seen "touring all the school toilets in the hope of finding who knows what". Clary adds: "For a whole term we took to following him round like private detectives."
Clary confirms that he knew Fr Pearce, but tells me he was "never molested" by the monk.
Scotland Yard detectives are examining claims of sexual assault by two former pupils at the school in west London, which is attached to the Benedictine monastery at Ealing Abbey. The two men are reported to have contacted police after reading of the conviction of Fr Pearce.
Mandrake hears that detectives investigating new allegations of child abuse at one of Britain's top Roman Catholic schools are keen to speak to the comedian about his years as a pupil there.
It can be disclosed that Father David Pearce, a former teacher at St Benedict's School, in Ealing, who was convicted last year of abusing eight pupils, features in Clary's book.
Referred to as "Father Fox", he is described as "a smiling, somewhat fey, monk", who was seen "touring all the school toilets in the hope of finding who knows what". Clary adds: "For a whole term we took to following him round like private detectives."
Clary confirms that he knew Fr Pearce, but tells me he was "never molested" by the monk.
Scotland Yard detectives are examining claims of sexual assault by two former pupils at the school in west London, which is attached to the Benedictine monastery at Ealing Abbey. The two men are reported to have contacted police after reading of the conviction of Fr Pearce.
