Stowmarket Oakwood School: former staff questioned

Five former members of staff from a Suffolk boarding school have been interviewed over historical abuse allegations, police said.

More than 100 ex-pupils of Oakwood School, Stowmarket are mounting a legal case for compensation against Suffolk County Council, which ran it.

Suffolk police confirmed five people were interviewed under caution, but no arrests had been made.

The school for children with behavioural problems closed in 2000.

The civil compensation case was registered at Cambridge County Court last year by solicitor Andrew Grove, who is representing the former pupils.

He estimated the claims for physical, emotional and sexual abuse would run to £5m.

The solicitors said the case rests on the conviction of Oakwood teacher Keith Hatton who was jailed for three years in 1987 after admitting nine sexual assaults against pupils. He has since died.

Suffolk County Council is yet to file its formal response to the legal claim.

The council-run school for boys with emotional and behavioural difficulties was open from 1974.