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Ex Grey High School teacher prohibited from teaching indefinitely

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Stephen Pieter Grobbelaar, who fled to Britain after hypnotising a pupil in order to sexually abuse him, has spent the last two decades working at prestigious private schools, it has emerged.

Grobbelaar, 53, was banned from teaching for life after the boy he molested in South Africa in 1987 tracked him down to a school in West Sussex and reported him to the authorities.

Grobbelaar was functioning as head of history at the prestigious Windlesham Property college in Pulborough, West Sussex, when his former crimes came to light.

His victim, who was 16 at the time, described how in 1987, Grobbelaar had put him in a trance on the pretext that it would aid him with his maths studies and then proceeded to carry out a sexual assault on the boy.

A Professional Conduct Panel of the National College for Teaching and Leadership convened on 18 September 2014 at 53-55 Butts Road, Earlsdon Park, Coventry, CV1 3BH to consider the case of Mr Stephen Pieter Grobbelaar on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education.

The panel considered the allegations that Mr Grobbelaar was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, in that: Whilst working at Grey High School, Port Elizabeth, South Africa in or around October 1987 he hypnotised Pupil A and whilst Pupil A was under hypnosis, he removed Pupil A’s tracksuit bottoms, performed oral sex on Pupil A and rubbed his bare penis against Pupil A’s buttocks.

With regard to the allegations Mr Grobbelaar admitted the alleged facts and that they amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and/or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. Stephen Grobelaar presented the Panel with a Statement of Agreed Facts signed by himself on 25 July 2014. As a result the Panel found the facts as proven.

Between 1987 and 1990, Grobbelaar was an English teacher at Grey High School, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. During some of this period he held the roles of guidance counsellor and master in charge of the school farm. The farm was used for sport and leadership activities. On occasions when he was in charge of the farm Mr Grobbelaar undertook hypnosis on a number of pupils. This was usually carried out in a room full of pupils for their amusement.

In August 2013 Pupil A discovered that Mr Grobbelaar was working as a teacher at a school in England and communicated with the school to recount what had happened at Grey High School. The school investigated the complaint and Mr Grobbelaar resigned from his post.

In their findings the panel gave due regard to the fact that the incident was a one off incident that had happened over 25 years ago. They also noted through Grobbelaars employment record and references that he is an excellent and inspirational teacher. And that the risk of repetition is low.

However, the admitted behaviour is a serious departure from the standards expected of a teacher, involving the abuse of a position of trust and having a serious effect on a pupil over many years. In the circumstances Paul Heathcote (the decision maker appointed by the Secretary of State), agreed with the panel’s recommendations that a prohibition order, without the opportunity to apply for it to be set aside, was an appropriate and proportionate sanction.

This means that Mr Stephen Pieter Grobbelaar is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.

Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, Paul Heathcote decided that Mr Stephen Pieter Grobbelaar shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

Related: Prohibition order for Stephen Pieter Grobbelaar on the gov.uk web site.

See also: This letter to the editor – Stephen Pieter Grobelaar and this one: Rape.

You can submit your letter to the editor here – there is a tick box allowing you to remain anonymous if you wish.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Who remembers the School Counsellor before this one who encouraged the ‘Sonop Virgins’ to walk naked on the beach?

  3. This all sounds really dodgy and one wonders how many young lives have been ruined by some sicko paedophile in positions of trust and authority. One also wonders if the institutions involved silently condoned this behavior. What school would allow their staff to hypnotise their pupils? Thank goodness these things are not frowned upon too much nowadays – but I am sure that there is still a huge amount of abuse by these sick individuals that get swept under the carpet.

  4. I wonder four things….
    1) Why are none of the main local press channels running this story?
    2) Why are there no criminal proceedings against Grobbelaar, not least as he has admitted one case.
    3) Surely there should be some sort of assistance for victims? It is suggested in the letter to editor that there are many victims, should Grey not be doing something to try help them?
    4) Grey would appear to be complicit in this to some extent, why are they not being held accountable. If just one person was a victim of his after he left Grey – surely it makes their lack of action criminal?

    • 1. I cannot answer you. On 2. Maybe ‘Pupil A’ does not want to bring criminal charges. On 3. They should if the number of victims is proven to be high. 4. If you read the findings on the gov.uk site and in the article above you will see it stated; “In their findings the panel gave due regard to the fact that the
      incident was a one off incident that had happened over 25 years ago.
      They also noted through Grobbelaars employment record and references
      that he is an excellent and inspirational teacher. And that the risk of
      repetition is low.”

      As an ex pupil and in hindsight I now find myself wondering about the behaviour of certain teachers when I was at school. My mother confirms that when her and my father had doubts about any teachers or persons in authority that they made sure that they stayed close and closely observed my behaviour for any changes that may indicate problems.

      I must then count myself extremely lucky to have such parents who allowed me space but kept a close eye on on any potentially nasty situation.

      The Longhair will tell you that we operated the same way with our two children. Again we count ourselves as extremely lucky to have had the means to do so.

  5. Alan, your thoughts certainly provoke further consideration,

    To answer my own question and to respond to your comments, my thoughts are as follows:

    1) Could it be that despite national newspapers and other local SA papers (in other provinces) running the story, the close relationship between Grey and PE’s local news organisations ensure this pertinent to the Eastern Cape story was not published?

    2) I would like to think that, just like in the UK with operation Yewtree – high press exposure helps in enabling other victims to have the confidence to come forward and confront their abuser with the knowledge that they will be taken seriously and that justice will be served.

    3) I have no knowledge of further cases so cannot say there were, however in the “letter to the editor” there is a clear allegation of two further cases. Bearing in mind the admitted premeditated method of hypnotising his victim/victims to try and cover his tracks, it is probable, at the very least, that there were other victims, some of which may not even be aware of it to this day…

    4) Grey should be taking the lead on this. I was at Grey and was taught by Grobbelaar, I recall him being an excellent teacher just as clearly as I recall the rumours for him leaving… I have full confidence in suggesting Grey did not do enough at the time, but more particularly now. It was a long time ago. Yes, things were different then BUT society has moved forward and so should Grey!!

    With regard to the panels findings:
    There is already one allegation of further abuse now that the story is in the common domain..
    If they based his risk of repetition on the assumption of one isolated case..the judgement would be faulty if indeed these allegations are true. Likewise was Grey one of the schools that gave him a glowing reference?

    This man should be held accountable for his actions, and we as a society have a duty to ensure that he is. If it was one isolated incident and the victim does not wish to lay charges, fine, a line should be drawn. However, if it was not isolated, as has been suggested, more should be done to get to the bottom of this matter as he clearly would have lied once already… I would suggest that the mere allegation as published in “letters to the editor” is enough for a docket to be opened and further criminal investigation.

    It is not all about the past, accountability and helping the victim/s heal. It is as much about the future and ensuring that my son/daughter and yours live in a society where this kind of thing will not have a blind eye turned, and where victims know they will be taken seriously and justice will be served.

    Finally just a note to say well done for publishing this sensitive article and subject. I note as it is still the most read article this month, according to your website monitor, it certainly has struck a cord with your, I imagine mostly local readership.

    • Thank you for the constructive points raised.

      1) Insofar as local press not highlighting this it could be that they just cannot get a new ‘angle’ on it or do not want to refer to other publications that have already published the findings of the panel.

      In terms of online coverage a search for “stephen pieter grobbelaar” reveals only 176 references – https://www.google.co.za/?gws_rd=ssl#q=“stephen+pieter+grobbelaar”

      Compounding the media’s frustrations must be the fact that “stephen pieter grobbelaar” does not appear to have any social media accounts in his name either.

      2) Yes high exposure is necessary. A mate of mine loves to tell the story that in SA you can lean on the fence outside of a school and watch sport whist in the UK anyone doing so runs the risk of a parent or teacher calling the authorities. Where do you draw the line?

      3) Granted – combine that hypnosis with alcohol and the possibilities are too horrible to contemplate.

      4) Yes and no – society should be taking the lead. BUT, as one example – how come there is an apparent ‘statute of limitations’ on how long we should ‘remember apartheid for and redress the imbalances of the past’ but sex crime offenders are hounded for life? Surely once a racist (or offender) always a racist (or offender)?

      I wonder if the wheel has finally turned and Grobbelaar is now paying for his actions? More importantly I wonder if Pupil A will see Grobbelaar’s sanction as justice served? One wonders if taking away a mans’ ability to earn a living is justice enough for decades of mental anguish and self doubt after such abuse as suffered by Pupil A.

  6. Is anybody still monitoring this discussion? I hope so, because I’ve stumbled across it almost by accident, and I’m hoping someone out there can point me towards a photo of Stephen Pieter Grobelaar – because I’m wondering if this is the same man I knew as a friend while at Rhodes University in 1980? I’d be horrified and shocked to find out it is, because I remember him as a very intelligent, very funny, very charismatic guy … but his age is right, his uni qualifications are right (graduated Rhodes in 1984), and as far as I can remember, he was going to go into teaching?