Pervert teacher who abused boy at Derbyshire school is jailed, by Martin Naylor, Derby Telegraph (October 10, 2016)

A perverted former teacher who sexually abused a boy at a school where he taught in the 1970s, has been jailed for more than six years.

John Thompson was sentenced to six years and six months behind bars at Derby Crown Court after he was found guilty of the historical sex offences. The 77-year-old former teacher, turned Baptist minister, had denied sexually touching the boy over a four-year period at Crich C of E Junior School 40 years ago.

The pensioner, of Tutbury Road, Burton, faced charges of six counts of indecent assault and two of gross indecency with the pupil.

Following his trial, a jury of six men and six women at Derby Crown Court took just over three hours to reach a unanimous verdict against Thompson.

Speaking after sentencing, a spokesman for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said: "It is only because of the brave victim reporting this crime that Thompson is now being punished. Abuse can ruin lives and profoundly affect people years after the offence has taken place.

"As a society we must ensure children are able to spot the signs of sexual abuse. Across Derbyshire and the UK, the NSPCC's Schools Service is teaching primary school pupils how to protect themselves from abuse. By empowering a generation of children to speak out, we can help reduce the likelihood of cases like this from happening again."

During Thompson's trial, the victim, who is now in his 50s, said Thompson would make him undress in an office at the school and then went on to touch him sexually.

He said his experiences at the hands of Thompson, a father-of-four boys, "destroyed my life" and that he did not come forward until 40 years after the alleged abuse as he was "ashamed and embarrassed with myself".

Giving evidence he said: "He has destroyed my life and taken my dreams. He has left me in fear. I came to expect it (the abuse) as the norm.

"I went to school and would do maths, English, whatever other subjects I was doing and then I did that (was abused by Thompson) which I thought was normal.

"I just wish I had told somebody and I could perhaps have had a better chance of life.

"But I just kept it bottled up because I was scared at what other people would say, that they would laugh at me."

Thompson lived in Crich and taught at the school where he was a third year teacher between 1968 and 1981. The court was told how he left teaching in 1981 to study theology and he later became employed as a Baptist minister.

The jury heard how Thompson had a previous conviction for sex charges against underage girls but not boys. They were told how he studied to become a Baptist minister in Manchester and then worked at Babington Hospital, in Belper, Crich Baptist Church, a church in Sutton-in-Ashfield and then became a minister in Burton in 1988.

He attended voluntary interviews with the police where the allegations made by the alleged victim were put to him.

Anyone who has been the victims of non-recent child abuse abuse can speak out by calling the police or the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.