A woman groomed by her teacher for sex while she was a teenage schoolgirl has called for a change to the law to protect 16 and 17-year-old girls from predators. Christine DaCosta, 38, said adults who worked with children could target girls by grooming them before they reached the age of consent, but avoid prosecution by not having sex with them until they reached the age of 16. Ms DaCosta to... Read more

First it was kayakers, then surf skiers joined in and paddlers got on board last year — now it is hoped more people than ever will get on the water for a round-the-island challenge this weekend. Jerry Rivers, an organiser of Kayak For Kids, said the event to raise money for Saving Children and Revealing Secrets was growing annually. He called on members of the community to take part in the... Read more

A wanted sex offender from Bermuda, who was tracked down by police to a hostel in Liverpool, is the subject of a television show in Britain. Malik Zuill, 22, from Warwick, was working as a cleaner when British police caught him and extradited him to the island to face accusations that he groomed and sexually assaulted an underage girl in 2015. Zuill later admitted in Magistrates’ Court cha... Read more

[Column written by Minister of Education Diallo Rabain] “The safety of children is paramount to the Ministry and Department of Education”. This is a statement I have said many times and in different ways over the last year. It is a statement I stand by and is not to be limited to physical health alone. The emotional well-being of students is of extreme importance as well. As we continue ou... Read more

A child protection charity has condemned a decision to release a serial paedophile from prison four years early. Kelly Hunt, executive director of the Coalition for the Protection of Children, said last night that it was “unfathomable” that Jomar Akbar Caines had been released before he had served his full 12 years behind bars. Ms Hunt said: “This individual has proven that he is not o... Read more

Residents who commit sexual assaults against Bermudian-based children overseas could face prosecution on the island under legislation backed by senators yesterday. Kathy Lynn Simmons, the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, said the legislation was an “important component” of a wide-ranging Bill that was given unanimous backing by the Upper House. Ms Simmons added: “An impo... Read more