Paedophile convicted for raping a child under 13 and possessing over 90 indecent images previously worked at Westminster School and lived in the boarding house

A paedophile convicted for raping a child under 13 in front of their mother in the hallway of their home previously worked at one of the country’s most prestigious schools.

Damien Riddle, 53, worked at Westminster School and lived in its boarding house for seven years between 1993 and 2000.

He was sentenced to over 12 years in prison plus another three years on licence, after a court heard he posed as a 15-year-old boy to snare the child in July this year.

Riddle also had a previous conviction in April 2022 after a search of his home found over 90 indecent images in February 2020. 

In a letter to alumni who attended Westminster School at the same time Riddle worked there seen by MailOnline, its Head Master, Dr Gary Savage said the school was ‘shocked’ to learn of the crime by a former staff member.

Damien Riddle was sentenced to over 12 years in prison after being convicted of raping a child under 13

It said: ‘Since the conviction we have been in contact with our Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who oversees the school’s safeguarding work.

‘While this conviction is for a crime that happened more than 23 years after he left Westminster School, its serious nature and the fact that it was committed against a child meant we wanted to contact all former pupils whose details we hold, who studied here while Mr Riddle was a teacher.’

Riddle got his victim, who was unnamed, to send him indecent photos, which he then sold online, Kingston Crown Court heard.

He was then caught by the victim’s mother after he turned up at the family home and forced the child to perform sexual acts.

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The court heard he was found naked with his victim and about to have a shower at around 4.30am. 

The victim said in an impact statement that since being groomed they felt unable to trust other people and that their family had moved house. 

A search of Riddle’s home in Lambeth uncovered devices containing a stash of 91 indecent images, including one Category A image, the worst kind, 88 Category B, and two Category C, none of which were of the victim.

Analysis of his hard drives also showed he had breached the terms of a sexual harm prevention order which prevented him from altering his search history or using incognito mode.

Riddle pleaded guilty to two counts of rape against a child under 13. 

The letter said that there had been no safeguarding concerns reported about Riddle while he worked and lived on the premises.

Riddle previously worked at Westminster School and lived in its boarding house between 1993 and 2000. Its current head master called his crimes ‘shocking’ (file photo)

It added: ‘The safety and wellbeing of pupils is our primary concern.

‘The crime for which Mr Riddle has been convicted is horrific and is exactly the type of action we work tirelessly to prevent occurring. 

‘Our work involves an extensive and joined-up safeguarding training programme that every member of staff goes through, as well as enhanced DBS checks made on everyone who works here, whose details are then held on a Single Central Record of Recruitment and Vetting Checks (SCR).’

A former student of the school who studied there while Riddle was teaching told MailOnline he seemed a ‘decent type’ and ‘professional’, and that there no ‘mutterings or rumours amongst the pupils at all’.