A former pupil of an elite school in New York has spoken for the first time about being sexually abused by staff when he was 13-years-old.
Ron Klepper, 48, and five other alleged victims attended a press conference yesterday where they called for civil lawsuits to be brought against Horace Mann School, in the Bronx.
They were joined by attorney Gloria Allred who is representing them in the case.
The men are now in their 40s and 50s and want the Child Victims Act bill to be passed.
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Justice: Former Horace Mann school pupils from left to right Ron Klepper, Edward Bowen and Jon Seiger with attorney Gloria Allred
At the moment adults who were sexually abused as children cannot file claims after they turn 23.
The New York Police Department scrapped its investigation against Horace Mann because the claims happened too long ago to prosecute.
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But according to the New York Post, Mr Klepper, 48, said: 'The effects of that abuse on my life have been profound.
'School was no longer a safe place to learn, but turned into a frightening place where a predator lurked.
Another victim, Jon Seiger, 51, accused eight faculty members of using him as a 'sex object and personal plaything.'
Horace Mann alumni break silence about sex abuse
Edward Bowen, centre, a former student at Horace Mann School, speaks during a news conference, next to photo of him as a student and Ron Klepper, left
John Seiger sits beside a picture of himself as a child at the press conference where he spoke about being the victim of sexual abuse
Too much: New Jersey attorney Daniel Shapiro said it was very difficult to talk about the abuse
Daniel Shapiro, right, a former student at Horace Mann School, speaks about alleged sexual abuse with other former pupils of Horace Mann School and attorney Gloria Allred
'Instead of a safe, nurturing place that would educate me, Horace Mann ended up providing a perfect storm of childhood sexual abuse'.
He says he was first raped and forced to give oral sex to headmaster Inky Clark when he was 14.
While Daniel Shapiro, 57, now an attorney in New Jersey, says he was first assaulted when he was 15.
All alleged abusers named by the victims are dead.
Historic claims: Attorney Gloria Allred (right) stands with a photograph next to Edward Bowen
Representing: Attorney Gloria Allred attends the Horace Mann School Child Sexual Abuse Scandal
Past pupils have hired a former sex-crimes prosecutor Leslie Crocker Snyder to lead an independent investigation but they are calling for the school to carry out its own.
Last year the school released a statement on its website which read: 'These allegations are highly disturbing and absolutely abhorrent.
'Horace Mann School has in place clearly articulated and enforced rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and expectations concerning appropriate behavior within our community.'
Prestigious: Former pupils have claimed they were sexually abused at the elite Horace Mann School in the Bronx, New York (pictured)