A former primary school PE teacher who was falsely accused of sexual misconduct by a #MeToo activist has described his 'trauma' following the 'deeply traumatic' ordeal. Ian Fry, 56, was embroiled in a five-year legal battle with visual artist and ex-colleague Yasmin Agilah-Hood.
Claiming to be a 'whistleblower', Ms Agilah alleged Mr Fry had been put on 'gardening leave' in a previous job after accusations by female members of staff. She has since admitted she was 'entirely mistaken' in a High Court statement after Mr Fry sued for defamation. However, the father-of-three has called the experience an 'indescribable horror' that left him a 'broken man', costing his marriage and career.
Mr Fry said he was forced to represent himself when he ran out of cash, with the experience exposing the 'injustice faced by men against whom such false allegations are made'. He said: 'To be falsely accused of the sort of conduct the defendant alleged is sickening, deeply wounding, traumatic, and hugely negatively impactful.'
The claims, made in 2018 and later repeated in a 2021 email to his new school, quickly spiralled into 'salacious gossip'. Despite admitting she had 'zero evidence', Ms Agilah, who formerly worked with Mr Fry at a different school, repeated the allegations to Northwick Manor Primary in Worcester. Mr Fry had previously coached the county championship-winning school football team and in 2021 published a book about his experience battling cancer.
Ms Agilah, who describes herself as a visual artist, creative practitioner and performer, sent her email to his headteacher during lockdown in March 2021. She claimed to be a 'whistleblower' and wrongly stated Mr Fry had been given 'gardening leave' at his former workplace due to allegations of 'sexual misconduct' from staff. 'I realise that what I am passing on to you comes with zero evidence,' she said, adding that the staff members she mentioned were 'unlikely to speak up.' No action was taken but Mr Fry's contract was not renewed.
He had never even met one of the women named, who told the court she had never said he sent 'inappropriate flirtatious messages'. Nor was he involved in any misconduct with the other three women mentioned. Mr Fry, now a university lecturer, said the toll on his family was devastating: 'My marriage ended as a direct consequence of the intolerable pressures and stress I found myself under, and my children have undoubtedly suffered as a result of the extensive trauma to which I have been subjected.'
At the High Court, it was accepted Ms Agilah had acted in 'good faith' and she issued a full apology. A statement read: 'Ms Agilah also accepts that Mr Fry was never placed on "gardening leave" and did not seek to avoid an investigation at Malvern St James Girls' School. Ms Agilah acknowledges the enormous hurt and suffering her allegations have caused Mr Fry and his family, for which Ms Agilah apologises unreservedly.' The case concluded at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on March 20. Both parties are understood to have settled non-financially out of court, the day before the verdict. Ms Agilah and Northwick Manor have been approached for comment.
