A victim of child abuse at one of Scotland’s most exclusive private schools has secured a landmark legal victory, winning a six-figure sum settlement after breaking his silence on pupil-on-pupil attacks. Angus Bell, 44, who was a pupil at Loretto School in Musselburgh , East Lothian, during the 90s, waived his anonymity in 2023 to launch legal action over claims he was repeatedly assaulted for eight years. He reported that kids were set on fire, pupils beaten with hockey sticks, waterboarded in toilets, and thrown down stairs. Angus said teachers knew about it and either failed to intervene or took steps to cover it up. The Scot, who now lives in Canada, previously gave evidence anonymously at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, where Scotland’s oldest boarding school was investigated. A civil trial – believed to be the first involving pupil-on-pupil abuse – was set for early June, with 12 former pupils and four former teachers lined up to provide damning testimonies. However, last week, Loretto School bosses agreed to end the action via an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed six-figure sum. “What happened at Loretto was a disgrace," a vindicated Angus said. "It was a madhouse of violence and psychological abuse. "The school knew abuse was happening and all too often chose to look the other way, and at no point has Loretto contacted me to apologise – not even after I gave evidence at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. “But finally outsiders know what happened within those walls. Finally, the school has been held to account. After a 34-year battle for justice, this is a monumental victory for children’s welfare." Angus previously revealed he had been sexually and emotionally abused by older pupils during the 1990s and likened every day to being “a cross between The Purge and The Running Man – it was eight years in Hell.” He also gave accounts of extreme violence, including kids set on fire, pupils beaten with hockey sticks and cricket bats daily, others whipped with belts, waterboarding in toilets, and being thrown down stairs. “The daily abuse I suffered at Loretto, from eight years of unchecked, harrowing peer-on-peer assaults, has been life-changing," he added. "But this is not just my story. So many other children suffered. In boarding schools across generations and continents, there are hundreds of thousands of victims of abuse. “I want to give special thanks to those who had the courage to support me. Particular praise must go to English teacher David Stock, whose career was terminated for confronting the Loretto authorities about the widespread culture of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse in 1991. “There is still much work to be done, and I will continue to support fellow survivors, as it is vital the truth continues to be heard so current and future generations of children are protected.” Richard Pitts, Partner at Digby Brown, led the legal action against Loretto School. He said: “The treatment depicted at Loretto was horrific – in my years as an abuse solicitor, it’s among some of the worst accounts of violence and depravity I’ve ever heard. “Angus has been strong, calm, and resilient throughout his entire journey, and I commend him for what he has been able to do because he has not just secured justice for himself — in all likelihood, he has opened the doors to help others get the outcome they deserve too.” Th Record has contacted Loretto School for comment.