An abuse survivor preyed upon by a prolific and longstanding sexual predator has agreed to a five figure settlement against a Surrey school and the county council.

Royal Alexandra and Albert School in Reigate, and Surrey County Council (SCC) have settled a claim and agreed to £50,000 in compensation to a former pupil who attended the boarding school in the 1980s.

He was sexually assaulted by Philip Batten, an English teacher at the time, who was employed by SCC. 

Batten was sentenced to 17 years’ in prison in 2016. He had been found guilty of 42 charges related to his time working as a teacher at the school. Ranging from serious sexual assaults to incidents of child cruelty throughout the 1970s and 80s.

During sentencing the judge said that then 70-year-old Batten “used and abused” boys at the school for his own “personal gratification”.

He said: “Late at night Mr Batten would slip into their dormitory, wake a boy and perform sexual acts on him or bring the boy back to his flat.

“He would go on to touch them, abuse them orally and get them to carry out sexual acts on him.

“Sometimes he would give them alcohol.”

Some victims, who were in their thirties and forties when he was convicted, had not spoken about what happened until the court case.

The Judge added: “One victim says there’s never been a day where he hasn’t thought about what has happened to him.

“Another said ‘I’ve spent thirty-six years of my life feeling dirty and ashamed’.”

Mr Batten was frequently described as a “monster” by victims.

Batten was first convicted for sexually abusing children in or around 1989 when the client’s complaint was taken into consideration, his lawyers Leigh Day said.

The survivor approached the law firm to investigate a civil claim against the boarding school and SCC. 

Head of Leigh Day’s abuse team, Alison Millar, said: “This is another case arising from Philip Batten’s prolific and longstanding abuse of children at Royal Alexandra and Albert School. 

“Serious questions remain unanswered by the school about how Batten, and others, were able to abuse children unfettered at the school for so long. 

“We must hope that the school has learnt from the survivors’ stories and now has robust safeguarding processes in place.

“The substantial settlement in this case reflects the ongoing psychological harm our client has suffered as a result of the abuse.

“I am pleased to have been able to reach a successful outcome for our client and I hope the compensation will help him to find closure.” 

Cllr Clare Curran commented: “This claim relates to historical allegations of abuse against an individual who has been convicted of offences against a number of other young people. 

“No liability has been accepted in the course of arriving at this settlement

“Surrey County Council hopes that the resolution of this matter without the need to formally litigate enables the complainant to take steps to move on with his life.”

The school was approached for comment.