How A Driving Instructor Abused Students For 5 Years

A grey dual-control driving school car sits isolated on an empty suburban road in Gloucestershire. Two silhouettes are visible inside, suggesting a lone instructor and pupil.

Between 2016–2021, driving instructor Michael Florek worked in Gloucestershire, England. His students included Phoebe Horrocks (18) and Morgane Chapman (17). The two young women did not know each other but trusted a man who appeared polite and professional.

Inside a cramped car interior, an older man's hand reaches across the gear console toward a young woman's leg. Her hands are frozen on the steering wheel.

During driving lessons, Florek touched Phoebe’s leg and assaulted her several times during the first lesson. Morgane said he asked about her body and underwear, then touched her breast and inner thigh.

Two young women sit across a table from a police officer in an interview room. A recording device's red light glows, capturing their formal report of the abuse.

More than 5 years later, Phoebe and Morgane separately reported Michael Florek to police. He was convicted of assaulting 5 pupils, given a suspended sentence, banned from instructing 10 years, and later died.

Phoebe and Morgane stand with resolute expressions on courthouse steps. They waived their anonymity to campaign for driving instructors to be classified as a position of trust.

Phoebe and Morgane chose to reveal their identities publicly. They demanded driving instructors be legally treated as a “position of trust” under the Sex Offences Act, similar to teachers and coaches.

An aerial view of a busy pavement where volunteers manage a petition table. A red banner reads "EMERGENCY STOP," part of a campaign to close a gap in safeguarding law.

The FearFree charity launched the “Emergency Stop” petition calling for law reform. Although UK law changed in 2022, including coaches and faith leaders, driving instructors were still excluded from position-of-trust rules.

Phoebe and Morgane sit calmly at a media interview table with microphones. They discuss reclaiming their story and their continued advocacy for stronger protections for learner drivers.

Phoebe and Morgane said campaigning helped them face the trauma. Phoebe said they had “changed the tables”, taken control of their story, and removed the shame while continuing to demand stronger protection for learners.