Nicky Campbell told a court that his mother did not report the violent attack he said he suffered at the hands of a teacher because, in 1970s Edinburgh, doing so would have been the “nuclear option”.
The broadcaster was giving evidence at Edinburgh Sheriff Court as part of a finding in fact hearing into allegations involving two retired teachers from Edinburgh Academy, where he attended as a day pupil.
Colin Turner and David Bourne, now in their 90s and 80s respectively, have both been deemed unfit to stand trial and were not in court.
Neither man will face punishment, whatever conclusion Sheriff Matthew Auchincloss reaches.
Mr Campbell previously gave a detailed account of what he described as a sudden, unprovoked assault by Turner when he was aged either 14 or 15. He said he was beaten and “ragdolled” during the incident.
The 65-year-old, one of Britain’s most recognisable television and radio presenters, was asked by Iain Smith, representing Turner, why his mother, who was a trained social worker, had not contacted police.
Nicky Campbell previously described in detail a sudden and unprovoked attack he said he endured when he was either 14 or 15
He said: “In Edinburgh in the 1970s, that would have been the nuclear option.”
“When reports were made to schools about abuse by teachers, as we now know, they were covered up, the teachers were protected and the schools turned on the accusers.”
“I was well aware of the sacrifices my parents made to send me to that school and if my mum had gone to the police, it would all have been for nothing.”
Mr Campbell also spoke warmly about his adoptive parents, describing his love for them and the pride he felt in their support.
He said his father, shaped by his experiences during the war, generally avoided confrontation. His mother therefore took the lead after he returned home distressed and dishevelled, contacting the school herself.
Turner was subsequently disciplined by the school and made to apologise to Mr Campbell’s mother.
The journalist said he was proud of his mother, adding: “I honestly believe that would have been the first time in the history of the school that a teacher had been forced to apologise to a parent.”
In recent years, after speaking publicly alongside other survivors about childhood abuse on radio and television, he said he had come to understand that his parents would be proud of him.
He also described working with former pupils to secure the extradition from South Africa of another former teacher, Iain Wares, who taught at Edinburgh Academy and neighbouring Fettes, so he could face trial over dozens of alleged sexual offences.
Mr Campbell said: “I’m proud of what we’ve done with that, and of the support we’ve given to so many who have made contact. And I believe my parents would be proud of me too.”
Mr Smith referred to a book published by the broadcaster in 2002, which included a brief section about abuse at the school, and asked why the alleged incident involving Turner was not included.
Mr Campbell replied: “I mentioned Wares and John Brownlee, and Hamish Dawson who sexually abused me. That was awful, but at that time that was not the point of the book.”
“My editor felt that another case could be overkill.”
Mr Smith persisted: ‘But you described this assault as the worst thing that happened to you?’
The witness replied: ‘Sometimes the out-of-control violence of Colin Turner is the worst thing, and sometimes it’s Hamish Dawson fondling [my private parts]. The point is that I am here trying to tell the truth to the best of my ability.’
In a moving moment, Mr Campbell said he was glad Turner wasn’t present and wasn’t having to go through a trial as a very old man, and that his family were also being spared the ordeal.
He added: ‘If he had written to me at any time in the last 50 years to say sorry, to admit he lost it that would have meant so much.’
Mr Smith told Mr Campbell his client had admitted pushing and shoving him, would he accept that’s all it had been.
Mr Campbell replied: ‘If he had just pushed me and pulled me, we wouldn’t be here.’
The case continues.