A Stratford woman has earned a civil court victory over a former Stratford teacher who was previously found not guilty of sexually assaulting her.
Roger Hilderley, the defendant in the civil matter, was found not guilty of sexual assault in 2021.
He was sued by the woman who said he sexually assaulted her in 2016. Two of her children were also listed as plaintiffs.
The ruling awarded the woman a total of $297,500 in aggravated damages, punitive damages and lost income. The two children named in the suit were also awarded $5,000 each.
Hilderly was not convicted in criminal court due to investigative failures into the historical sexual assault charge.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Phillip Millar, said in a news release the ruling validates his client’s bravery and determination to stand by her story for more than 20 years.
“This ruling is not only a victory for her but also a beacon of hope for other survivors of sexual assault who have been failed by the criminal justice system,” he said.
In the decision, Justice Maria Carrocia concluded that she did not accept the defendant’s evidence and his version of the events was not believable. She cited significant inconsistencies in his testimony at trial, during discovery examination and during his criminal trial.
“I pushed on because I wanted him to know he didn’t get away with it,” the woman said in a prepared statement. “He didn’t break me, and he will be held accountable so that other women can come forward and know there is hope.”
The alleged incident in question took place when the two had coffee at Hilderley's home, several years after the plaintiff had been a student at the school Hilderley worked at.
