Search results for Bedfordshire

Description

A man has been jailed for more than three years today (Friday 25 September) for possessing more than 5,000 child abuse images.

Christopher Luck, aged 62, pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images and two counts of distributing indecent images of children, as well as one count of possession of extreme pornography, prohibited images of children and cocaine.

The long-running and complex investigation began in 2024 when Luck was subjected to a warrant at his then-home address in St Albans, having been linked to uploading child abuse images to the internet.

When detectives analysed his devices, they found 1,416 Category A images, depicting the most serious abuse that can be committed by adults against children. He also had 1,315 Category B images and 2,493 Category C images.

Luck, formerly of Albion Street in Dunstable, also had 144 images of extreme pornography and 21 prohibited images of children.

Detectives linked him to online discussions with like-minded individuals about the sexual abuse of children, during which he boasted about his lack of morals.

Luck was arrested in June of this year and remanded into custody.

He was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court for a total of three years and two months in prison, and was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Luck will be required to serve half his sentence before completing the rest on licence, and he will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Detective Constable Natasha Martin, from the Child Online Safeguarding Team, said:

“Christopher Luck is a dangerous and predatory offender.

“He had more than 5,000 indecent images of children on his devices and would openly message others online about his abuse.

“The possession of indecent images of children is not a victimless crime. Each image represents the abuse of a child and has a real-world impact.

“Luck possessed more than 1,400 images of the worst type of child abuse imaginable, and he will now be held accountable for his actions and forced to spend time behind bars.

“I’d like to thank my colleagues for their diligent and tireless work in bringing this offender to justice.”

Description

A Houghton Regis man has been jailed for a series of sexual offences involving a child.

Aaron Sarwar, 28, was in contact with the victim, a teenage girl, on Snapchat and he befriended her by falsely telling her he was an 18-year-old gay man who didn't have many friends.

telling her he was an 18-year-old gay man who didn't have many friends.

After grooming her for a number of weeks he met up with the girl and sexually abused her on several occasions.

Today (Friday) at Luton Crown Court, Sarwar, of Harrington Heights, Houghton Regis, was sentenced to a total of nine years after being convicted of a number of child sex offences, including five counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, and a number of indecent image offences.

Detective Sergeant Sabrina D’Amelio from Bedfordshire Police, who investigated, said:

“We will always concentrate on protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and the sentence Sarwar received reflects the appalling nature of his crimes. 

“Throughout this investigation we have been focused on ensuring this dangerous man would be prevented from further offending while supporting the wellbeing of the victim and her family.  

“I hope the sentence reassures the community that we will always pursue those who pose a risk to women and girls and ensure they are brought before the courts.

“Child sexual abuse is an appalling crime, and it is never too late to report it. By doing so you could help us put these dangerous perpetrators in prison, while potentially protecting further victims.” 

Description

Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been convicted of multiple sexual offences.  

Goodness Sokoh, aged 35, of North Street, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, was found guilty by a unanimous jury of three counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act and one count of inciting a child into a sexual activity, at a hearing at Amersham Law Court, on Tuesday (4/8).

Between 31 October and 17 December of last year, Sokoh communicated with four girls, aged in their teens, via Snapchat, under the username handle 'GWDY_SXNGS'. 

Sokoh met with the victims, in Pitstone, Buckinghamshire, under the pretence of giving them free vapes and cannabis.  

After meeting the girls, Sokoh sexually assaulted and raped them. 

Following an investigation, Sokoh was arrested on 17 December 2025 and subsequently charged two days later (19/12).   

Investigating officer Detective Constable Natalie Palmer of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit said:

"I would like to begin by personally thanking each of the victims in this case for the immense courage they have shown in coming forward and reporting these offences to us.  

"Throughout the investigation, they engaged fully with police enquiries and demonstrated remarkable resilience, strength and determination during what has undoubtedly been an incredibly difficult period in their lives.  

"It takes extraordinary courage to support an investigation of this nature through to its conclusion. Their willingness to do so was instrumental in securing this conviction and ensuring that the defendant was held accountable for his actions.   

"The impact of these offences has been felt far beyond the four teenage girls at the centre of this case. Incidents of this nature inevitably have a profound effect on those closest to the victims.   

"Their families have endured this ordeal alongside them, providing unwavering love, support and reassurance throughout. The strength shown by both the victims and their families throughout this process has been truly commendable.   

“I am pleased that the jury came to their conclusion and that Sokoh has been convicted. His actions were pre-meditated and cruel. He groomed vulnerable young girls and violated their trust.  

"Thames Valley Police remains dedicated to tackling violence against women and girls by identifying and relentlessly pursuing those who commit these crimes.  

“The force is keeping an open mind to further offending by Sokoh and would encourage victims and anyone with information to come forward to us.  

“For victims of sexual assault, we understand that speaking to the police is incredibly difficult, but we urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault, or knows of someone who has, to get in contact.  

“Our dedicated officers, who are specialised in investigating sexual offences, will listen to you, protect your anonymity and support you through every stage of the process.” 

Description

A man has been jailed after he was convicted of raping a woman in Newport Pagnell.

Sean Wilcox, aged 35, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on 2 July 2026 to a total of 18 years’ imprisonment for offences committed in both the Thames Valley and Bedfordshire force areas.

Wilcox was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict on 16 January 2026 following a four-day trial at Aylesbury Crown Court.

He was convicted of rape in relation to a Thames Valley Police investigation and also pleaded guilty to six counts of theft from a motor vehicle, three counts of fraud by false representation, three counts of vehicle interference, two counts of burglary with intent to steal and one count each of theft from a person, possession of class A drugs, namely cocaine and possession of class B drugs, namely cannabis.

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker and one count each of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and common assault.

The conviction relates to an incident that occurred at around 4.30am on 26 July last year in Dulwich Close, Newport Pagnell.

After attempting to gain entry to vehicles in the area to steal items, Wilcox began trying the doors of nearby properties. He entered a house through an unlocked door and found the victim, a 29-year-old woman, asleep on a sofa.

He then raped the victim before fleeing the property.

On 27 June 2025, whilst Wilcox was committing vehicle offences, two off-duty officers attempted to restrain and arrest him.

Wilcox assaulted them both, as well as strangling a police dog. He also assaulted a member of the public who assisted the officers.

Luckily the three individuals involved, and the police dog, sustained no injuries as a result

Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, Wilcox was arrested on 1 August 2025 and charged the following day.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jessica Cooper, of Milton Keynes CID, said:

“The bravery and courage shown by the victim throughout this investigation has been admirable.

“No sentence will ever change the impact that this man has had on her life. However, we hope that this sentence provides her with some measure of justice.

“This was a deeply traumatic offence committed against a woman who was asleep in a place where she had every right to feel safe.   

“I would like to commend the victim for the strength she has shown in supporting this prosecution and helping to ensure that Wilcox was held accountable for his actions.

“We remain committed to investigating all reports of rape and serious sexual offences thoroughly, supporting victims and bringing offenders before the courts.”

Description

A man from Dunstable has been sentenced for raping and sexually assaulting a child.

Paul Millard, 43, carried out the abuse for around three years, bribing the child with sweets so she wouldn’t tell anyone.

However, she disclosed to her mother what had happened, and Millard was arrested by Bedfordshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) team.

Millard, of no fixed address, was found guilty of 10 counts relating to child sexual abuse, including four of rape.

He was sentenced today (Friday) to 18 years, plus seven on licence.  

Detective Constable Natasha Drew from PVP said:

“This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and the sentence Millard received reflects the severity of his crime. 

“Our priority throughout this investigation has been ensuring a dangerous offender is prevented from causing any future harm, while supporting the wellbeing of the victim, and we commend her courage in helping us put Millard behind bars.

“We hope this outcome provides a measure of reassurance to the community that we will always pursue those who pose a risk to children and ensure they are brought before the courts.

“Child sexual abuse is one of the most monstrous of crimes and we work tirelessly to support the victims through an investigation and bring these perpetrators to justice.

“Please remember it’s never too late to report a crime and you are helping us to put these dangerous perpetrators in prison.”

Description

A 63-year-old man from Dunstable has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for raping a child.

Stephen Byrne was arrested after the victim, now an adult, disclosed the abuse she suffered as a child.

He was found guilty of five counts of rape of a girl under 13 following a six-day trial at Luton Crown Court.

Byrne received an indefinite restraining order, a sexual harm prevention order, and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

Victim's Statement

The victim spoke about the impact of the abuse, saying:

“At the time the abuse happened, I was far too young to understand what was being done to me.

“I trusted him, and he took advantage of my vulnerability and innocence. I was sexually assaulted and raped at an age where I should have been safe, protected and carefree.

“Instead, I experienced emotional and physical harm that no child should ever have to endure. My childhood was taken from me.

“It makes me incredibly sad that this abuse has affected me for so many years, but today I finally feel that I can begin to heal.”

Detective Sergeant Natalie Miller from the PVP team expressed admiration for the victim's courage in coming forward.

“Firstly, I would like to praise the victim for her bravery in coming forward and helping us bring another sexual predator to justice," she said.

“This was a lengthy and complex investigation, and I am pleased that Byrne was given such a significant sentence and hope that this outcome will help the victim get closure now he’s behind bars."

Detective Sergeant Miller highlighted the profound impact of sexual abuse on victims, adding:

“Sexual abuse is one of the most devastating experiences a child can endure. It not only shatters their sense of safety and innocence during their formative years, but its impact can echo throughout their entire life, affecting their emotional wellbeing, relationships, and sense of self well into adulthood."

Description

A Luton man will be spending a substantial amount of time in prison after admitting to sexually abusing several children.

Damian Schisnach, 38, was convicted of number of offences relating to four different victims; both male and female, over a three-year period.

After pleading guilty on the first day of his trial in October last year, to eight charges, which included rape, sexual assault, taking and making indecent images of children and causing and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Schisnach, of Ferrars Close, Luton, was sentenced yesterday (Wednesday) at Luton Crown Court to 21 years.

He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Constable Lesley Waring from Bedfordshire Police said:

“Schisnach is a sexual predator. His offending spanned several years and was identified due to the brave victims coming forward. 

“This is the worst case of child abuse I have dealt with, and I commend the victims and their families for having the strength to come forward. I have seen first-hand the devastation and trauma that this type of crime causes to families and so thanks to the evidence, he had no choice but to plead guilty on the first day of the trial.

“We work hard to tackle all forms of abuse against children and would urge anyone who has concerns that a child is being sexually abused, or has been a victim themselves, no matter how long ago, to come forward.

“Our specialist teams carry out many investigations like this one and have successfully brought many perpetrators to justice, whilst ensuring the victim has the support they need.

“Please remember it’s never too late to speak out. When you are ready, our officers are there to listen and your voice will be heard.”

Description

A man who sexually manipulated two young girls across the country has today (Friday, 23 January 2026), been sentenced to a total of eight years behind bars, and will be required to be on licence for an additional three years.

He is also to be placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, and handed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Luke Williamson, 34-years-old, of Bunyan Road in Kempston, Bedfordshire, appeared at Hull Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to 20 child sex offences at a previous court hearing

Williamson sent thousands of messages, including videos and voice calls, through multiple social media channels to two teenage girls all under 16-years-old, living in West Midlands and Hertfordshire, leading them to believe he was in love with them and manipulating them into doing what he wanted for his own perverse sexual gain.

Williamson was charged in July 2025 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to 12 counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sexual offence, three counts of sexual communications with a child, three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act and taking indecent photographs of a child.

Leading the extensive investigation into the scale of Williamson’s offending was Detective Inspector Cat Slaughter from our Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, who said:

“Williamson is a very calculated and manipulative man who preyed on vulnerable girls and in essence, groomed them with his methods being the same each time.

“He would first ask the girls how old they were and once he knew they were underage he continued with messaging them inappropriately.  Once they were overwhelmed by his interest, he progressed on to asking them for favours which included sending photographs of their legs and feet.

“He went on to initiate a phone or video call with the girls.  If they were reluctant or refused, he offered them money, alcohol, or vapes in a devious scheme to coerce them into doing what he wanted.  He then took the next step, persuading them to meet him in person which enabled him to continue his sexual offending against them.”

The investigation commenced when Williamson’s phone was seized in May this year as part of another investigation and examined by our Digital Forensics Unit who uncovered the messages, images and videos he had been sending.

It was established during the investigation that Williamson drove significant distances across the country to meet the girls, and location tracking data analysed from his phone showed that he would wait for hours in his car to execute his plan.

On one occasion, he went to such lengths that he meticulously planned and implemented entering one of the girl’s houses whilst her family members slept to engage in sexual activity with her.

Williamson was arrested in July this year and whilst he first refused to admit involvement in any of the allegations put to him, due to the amount of significant evidence and strong case built by the detectives, he entered a guilty plea at a Pre Trial Plea Hearing in October 2025.

DI Slaughter continued:

“Even whilst on remand for a previous investigation Williamson continued to write letters to one of the girls, making false promises, and further led her to believe that he was in love with her.

“When someone has been sexually manipulated, groomed or abused, people sometimes do not want to fully engage with an investigation, as was the situation with this case, and I want to acknowledge how incredibly difficult it is and that we completely understand and respect the girls’ decision.

“We believed that Williamson was a danger to young girls, and we continued to gather as much evidence as we could to build a strong case against him.  

“Before the Judge passed her sentence today, she said that Williamson is a high risk offender and a serious risk to teenage girls, I hope the result at court today demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting offenders like Williamson and I hope it provides some reassurance to anyone who has been or is a victim of any type of sexual offence. It is never your fault, you will be believed, and we will do all we can to hold those responsible to account.

“I would urge anyone who reads this court result about Williamson’s offending and is affected by it, or if it causes you concern, please come forward and report via our dedicated Major Incident Public Portal quoting log 72 of 17 November 2025.”

Jessica Randell, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, added:

"Luke Williamson repeatedly targeted and groomed young girls, before subjecting them to appalling degradation. He treated his victims as sexual objects to be used and discarded, showing a complete disregard for their dignity and wellbeing in doing so.

“To build this case, we dissected thousands of text messages between Williamson and his victims. This allowed us to build a comprehensive picture of the extent of his offending and ultimately secure guilty pleas to 20 counts of child sexual abuse.  

“Working closely with Humberside Police, we have been able to ensure that Williamson is rightfully imprisoned for his crimes and cannot subject any more victims to his disturbing patterns of behaviour. The CPS is determined to tackle child sexual abuse in all its forms and to help stop the devastating impact of these crimes on victims.”

Description

A man who travelled to Swindon with the intention of sexually abusing a child has today been jailed (23/1).

Mark Bellas, 54, from Harebell Gardens, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, Bedfordshire was arrested in Swindon in October last year having travelled from his home address. He thought he was meeting a girl under the age of 13 who he was intending to sexually abuse. Instead, he was met by officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).  

At the time of his arrest, Bellas was on bail for distributing indecent images of children following an investigation by Bedfordshire Police. 

Today, at Swindon Crown Court, he was sentenced to 12 years with a five-year extended licence, given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be required to be on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely. 

Bellas pleaded guilty to two counts of arranging orfacilitatingthe commission of a child sex offence,attemptingto cause or incite the sexual exploitation of a child and five counts of distributing indecent images of children. He has been remanded in custody since his arrest by SWROCU last year. 

DI Dave Wells from SWROCU said:

“Due to the strength of the evidence gathered by the police, Bellas had no option but to plead guilty. He is a dangerous individual who preys upon children to fulfil his sexual desires, and I welcome the sentence handed down to him today. 

“Specially trained officers are all across the internet rooting out and prosecuting individuals’ intent upon sexually abusing and exploiting children. We worked in collaboration with our colleagues at the Metropolitan Police and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) to bring Bellas to justice.”

Description

A 78-year-old man from Luton has been sentenced after sexually assaulting and abusing multiple women and girls over a period of 30 years. 

Barry Tatum, of Regis Road, came to the attention of Bedfordshire Police in August 2017 after one of the victims reported that she had been sexually abused by him.   

Following this disclosure, an investigation was launched by the Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) team, and Tatum was arrested. 

As the investigation progressed, seven further victims of varying ages came forward, reporting abuse dating back to the late 1980s. 

Tatum was subsequently charged with 23 offences and following a five-week trial at Luton Crown Court in August, he was found guilty of 16 offences: five counts of indecent assault, six counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, and two counts of making indecent images of a child.  

Today (Thursday) he was jailed for 10 years with an additional three years on licence. He was also handed a restraining order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after the judge described his actions as a campaign of abuse that he had shown no remorse for.

Detective Constable Matt McCarthy from the PVP team said:

“For three decades Tatum groomed and abused the trust of many innocent women and girls, acting in a persistently predatory manner and subjecting them to wholly inappropriate sexual abuse.

“This verdict is a testament to the bravery and resilience of the victims who came forward and shared their experiences.

“Their courage has ensured that a dangerous offender has now been brought to justice. We hope this outcome brings some measure of closure and reassurance to them and to the wider community. 

“We work hard to tackle all forms of sexual abuse. Please remember it’s never too late to speak out. Our specialist teams carry out many investigations like this one and have successfully brought many perpetrators to justice, whilst ensuring the victim has the support they need. 

“When you are ready, our officers are there to listen and your voice will be heard.” 

Lawyer Paul Robson from the Crown Prosecution Service said:

“The strong testimonies of the victims were central to our case and to securing Tatum’s conviction.

“Not only did these women come forward to report him, but they also showed great courage by giving their accounts in court, despite everything they had been through. As a result, Tatum will now serve time in prison for his crimes.

“We would like to thank the victims for their support through this process. We also recognise the outstanding work of the police, barristers, and other professionals who ensured justice was served.”

Description

A 22-year-old man from Houghton Regis has been jailed for 12 years after raping a girl in a park last year. 

William Ward, of Parkside Close, approached the victim and her friend in a park in October 2023 and engaged them in conversation.

The victim’s friend, who felt uncomfortable by Ward’s presence and was suspicious of his intentions, messaged some of their other friends to come and meet them.

Ward, on the pretence of helping the victim find something she had lost, managed to lure her away from her friends and into a wooded area where he raped her.

When her friends found her, she was distressed and disclosed that Ward had raped her.

The group challenged him, but he denied it and left shortly afterwards.

However, the victim’s friends had managed to take a video of him which was later used to help identify and arrest him.

Ward was found guilty of rape of a child under 13 and assault by penetration and was sentenced on Friday (8 November) at Luton Crown Court to 12 years. 

Detective Sergeant Joanna Tyrrell from Bedfordshire Police’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team, who investigated, said:

“Ward took advantage of this young girl in the worst possible way. He targeted her when she was with her friend and lured her away into woods.

“Despite her trauma, the victim showed how brave she was throughout the investigation, and I hope she feels a sense of justice now he’s behind bars and can’t do this to anyone else.

“I also want to commend her friends as they obviously realised Ward was behaving oddly and their quick thinking and actions led to his timely arrest. It’s important to remember that if something doesn’t look or feel right it usually isn’t.

“Tackling perpetrators of male violence against women and girls is a significant focus for us and we will continue to pursue these types of offenders, as well as working closely with our partners to support and improve women’s safety across the county.”

Description

A registered sex offender has been sentenced to more than 20 years’ jail for raping a child and making her film indecent videos for him.

Jamie Thacker, aged 34, who has been previously convicted of possessing indecent images of children, had messaged the victim via WhatsApp and given her instructions to film indecent videos of herself.

The videos were discovered by a family member of the victim, and further disclosures were made that she had been previously raped by Thacker.

Thacker, who previously lived in Everton, near Biggleswade, pleaded guilty to 10 different counts, including rape, assault by penetration, and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

He was sentenced at Huntington Crown Court last Thursday (17/10) to 21 years in prison with a further five years on licence due to the danger he poses.

Description

A former Bedfordshire Police officer who targeted vulnerable teenage girls over social media for sexual gratification has been jailed for over three years today (Wednesday 16 October).

Elliot Wright, aged 29 from Henlow, Bedfordshire, was working as an officer in the collaborated Roads Policing Unit when he arranged to meet a teenage girl who was at risk after finishing a shift on 21 March this year.

The girl, from Hertfordshire, was subject to a deprivation of liberty order for her own safety. Staff at her care home contacted police when they saw her getting into a car, and officers were able to track down Wright’s vehicle near his home in Bedfordshire a short time later and arrested him.

The victim told officers Wright had asked her to delete his messages before he was stopped. Following his arrest by Hertfordshire Constabulary officers, detectives traced potential further victims on his social media including a 16-year-old girl who he had paid in return for sexual images.

An investigation into Wright, led by Hertfordshire Constabulary, showed he had been aware she was vulnerable and often needed money to buy food. He offered her £3 on one occasion for images.

He was soon charged and was immediately suspended by Bedfordshire Police at the time of his arrest. He had his vetting removed and was dismissed from the force in July.

Wright pleaded guilty to three counts of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, arranging the sexual exploitation of a child, abduction of a child in care, paying for the sexual services of a child and perverting the course of justice. A further charge of misconduct in a public office, which he denied, was ordered to lay on his file.

He was sentenced by a High Court judge to a total of 42 months at St Albans Crown Court, and will serve half his sentence in prison and the second half on licence. Wright was also granted an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A man from Leighton Buzzard, who was branded a dangerous offender, has been jailed for sexually abusing a child over a five-year period.

Peter Cutler, 62, will now spend the next 14 years in prison, plus an additional seven years on licence, after pleading guilty to 22 offences relating to child sexual abuse.

The abuse spanned over five years, until the child, who is now a teenager, opened up to a trusted adult. Together they reported it to police and were able to work with specialist officers.

Subsequently, Cutler was arrested, however whilst he was out on police bail, he admitted to family members that he had sexually abused a child. When he was asked to explain himself, he claimed he didn’t know what he was doing.

Cutler, of Heath Road, Leighton Buzzard, was sentenced on Thursday (18 July) after pleading guilty to the following:

• Seven counts of assaulting a child by penetration
• Six counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child
• Five counts of sexual assault of a child
• Two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child,
• Two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act 

He will serve 14 years in prison, with an extended licence period of seven years on his release, due to his dangerousness.

Cutler will also have to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a Restraining Order, with notification requirements for life.

Description

A former school child protection officer who sexually abused his pupils has been jailed.

Alexander Charles Ralls, 47, was found guilty of over 40 non-recent sexual offences at Bradford Crown Court.

The court heard he had carried out the offences while working at York public school Queen Ethelburga's.

Ralls, of Hazel Mead in Bedfordshire, was jailed for 16 years on Monday, and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

During a six-week trial at Bradford Crown Court, it was heard how, over a four-year period, Ralls used his position of trust to exploit his victims in the UK and on school trips abroad.

He was suspended from teaching and subsequently dismissed in 2015 following a disclosure made by a former student, according to the school.

'Sickening actions'

North Yorkshire Police said Ralls posed as a person with medical knowledge who told his victims to remove their clothes to examine them and then molested them.

Ralls was found guilty of 31 charges of sexual assault, 10 charges of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and two charges of assault by penetration.

Investigating officer Det Con Suzanne Hall said Ralls had used his position of trust to "coerce and influence".

Det Con Hall added: "The extent of his offending was staggering and the fact that he continued to use the same excuse of providing medical care to carry out his sickening actions, shows his utter arrogance towards and contempt of his victims."

A spokesperson for Queen Ethelburga's said "significant improvements in safeguarding practices" had been made since then.

The spokesperson said the school wanted to express their "heartfelt sorrow and regret" to the victims.