Gareth’s whole life has been defined by a relationship he had 35 years ago when, as a 14-year-old schoolboy, he fell in love with an attractive young teacher at his school. He spent most afternoons in her bedroom and thought he was the luckiest boy in the world. But when she walked out of his life everything started to unravel. Lucky Boy is a new four-part series in which Chloe Hadjimatheou asks who gets to be a perpetrator and a victim.You can find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact [email protected] and produced by: Chloe Hadjimatheou and Gary MarshallSound design: Hannah VarrallPodcast artwork: Lola WilliamsExecutive producer: Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chapter 1: Who is Gareth and what was his secret?
Gareth was a pretty ordinary 14-year-old. He liked comics, climbing trees and hanging out with his mates, that kind of stuff. But he also had a secret.
I thought I was something special. I was, I just didn't know what kind of special that meant.
Chapter 2: How did Gareth meet the young teacher?
It all began when a new chemistry teacher started at the school, a 27-year-old woman with long blonde hair.
Chapter 3: Why was the new chemistry teacher so popular?
There would just be lines of boys following her at great times.
She absolutely stood out, got a lot of attention, very much sort of played to the crowd.
Chapter 4: What happened between Gareth and the teacher?
Out of the hundreds of boys, she chose Gareth. And before long, she was sleeping with him.
You looked at someone different once you knew they'd had sex with an adult woman with breasts and a bank account.
Chapter 5: Why did everyone think Gareth was a lucky boy?
And everyone, including Gareth, thought he was such a lucky boy.
It was me and her, right? Against the world. Like, we were powerful, right?
He was only 14 and he was a silly boy, you know? After years spent coming to terms with what happened to him, he doesn't feel so special anymore. I could have killed her. She's ruined his life. Now he wants justice. And he wants to know why no one put a stop to it. But there's a problem.
I've no interest in a witch hunt on a teacher. With respect, I do not wish to be contacted again.
All those teachers he sure knew about the relationship back then, now they say they don't know what he's talking about.
There was no secret and it wasn't hidden.
100%.
100%. That's when he gets in touch and asks me to investigate. And when I start to dig and get people to talk, it turns out Gareth isn't the only lucky boy.
How about the truth? How about we do that first and then we work out where we're going to go from there? How about the truth?
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