A MAN, who is suing the Church of England over sadistic abuse perpetrated by John Smyth, will share his story in a Channel 4 documentary this week, highlighting systemic failings that enabled the offender’s move to Africa.
Jason Leanders is among seven Zimbabwean survivors represented by law firm, Leigh Day, in a claim against the church.
He will appear on See No Evil, a two-part documentary airing on December 10 and 11 this year.
The programme investigates decades of abuse by former barrister and evangelical leader Smyth and draws on the 2024 Making Review, which confirmed senior church leaders knew of the abuse in the UK by 1982, but failed to act, enabling his 1984 relocation to Zimbabwe.
A formal letter of claim submitted by Leigh Day argues that the Church of England’s failure to report Smyth’s abuse between 1982 and 1984 directly enabled his escape to Zimbabwe, where he continued abusing vulnerable boys.
Leanders was 13 in 1993 when he and his brother Rocky attended a Smyth-run camp in Zimbabwe.
He describes suffering forced nudity, beatings with sports bats, indecent exposure, groping and intrusive conversations about masturbation.
The legal claim alleges the brutal abuse that occurred in Zimbabwe was a direct consequence of the UK cover-up. Survivors say had the church reported Smyth’s earlier abuse, he would not have abused them.
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“I agreed to speak to See No Evil because it’s important that people know about Smyth’s sadistic actions in Zimbabwe.
“I believe there are many more Zimbabwean survivors out there, and by speaking publicly I hope to give them a voice,” Leanders said.
“The claim also involves the family of Guide Nyachuru, who died aged 16 at one of Smyth’s camps. His story is explored in the documentary’s second episode.”
Meanwhile, Leigh Day’s Rebekah said: “By speaking out, Jason is shining a light on the horrific abuse John Smyth inflicted and the systemic failures that allowed it to continue.
“Our clients want accountability from the Church of England for enabling Smyth’s move to Zimbabwe, where he went on to harm countless young people. This case is about truth, justice and ensuring survivors’ voices are finally heard.”
The legal claim targets institutional responsibility. Leigh Day has sent a letter of claim to St Andrew the Great Church in Cambridge, which employed the late Reverend Mark Ruston, who led the 1982 internal investigation into Smyth's conduct.
“The claim alleges Ruston, alongside other clergy and senior officers, deliberately concealed the abuse and failed to report it to the police, despite acknowledging that crimes had been committed,” he said.
Producers describe See No Evil as “a forensic look at the biggest scandal in the Church of England’s history”, examining Smyth’s psychology and the consequences of institutional cover-ups.
