A DOCUMENTARY investigating historical sexual abuse at a Herefordshire school is set to broadcast tonight.

'Boarding Schools: The Secret Shame – Exposure' is airing on ITV at 10.45pm and featuring the historical case of David Panter at Lucton School.

Panter was jailed in 2016 for nine years for indecent assault and gross indecency against seven Lucton pupils dating between 1971 and 1980.

The school closed in 1985 and a new school was later opened under a new trust.

The programme will hear from victim Phillip Witcomb, who was aged 13 when he arrived at the school in 1975- his housemaster was Panter.

“Things with me started very early on in my first term," said Philip.

"Our housemaster (Panter) decided – took it upon himself to inspect us in the showers. I was told to bend over...” before describing the sexual abuse he suffered.

"The problem is that it starts to become normal. This is a mental rape. I think people think that paedophiles force themselves onto children.

“It’s a lot worse than that because they get you in the brain and they make you want them to do it. And of course, then it’s, ‘Oh well why didn’t you say anything?

Mr Witcomb describes the sexual abuse he featured at the hands of Panter and worked up the courage to tell the headmaster.

The programme heard that Panter’s teaching career continued in the state sector.

ITV’s Exposure tracked down the headmaster who employed him at his next school, he told them he would have received a reference from Lucton.

In response Lucton School said: "We are saddened and have deep sympathy for any survivors of sexual abuse. Schools 40 years ago were very different institutions, without the child protection regulations that exist today.

"Lucton School where Mr Panter was employed, closed in 1985.  Following its closure two different schools set up on the same premises. In September 1986 Lucton Pierrepont School Educational Trust was established as a new charity, a separate legal entity to the Lucton School which closed its doors in 1985.  This charity opened the school now known as Lucton School in 1989. 

"The school that is now known as Lucton School, is not the school named in this documentary. As such, we have no access to or knowledge of any records or documentation from that school or time. 

"Our sympathies are with any survivors of non-recent abuse, however allegations from that period cannot be answered on behalf of another legal entity and school. All schools nowadays, including our own, quite rightly, have to follow strict child protection guidelines and statutory guidance. The school is a member of the Boarding Schools’ Association, and in line with their view, we support mandatory reporting to the appropriate authority