Locations
Glendevon Road, Woodley, Reading, Berkshire, RG5
Description
A HEADTEACHER has spoken of the 'shock' and 'disappointment' in her school after a staff member received an 18-month jail term for sexually abusing two boys.
Liz Allen, the head of Altwood School, Maidenhead, said she was stunned when she heard the news about maths teacher Brian Lee who was jailed on Friday.
A packed public gallery at Reading Crown Court heard how Lee admitted seven charges of indecent assault on the boys, neither of whom were students at Altwood.
The victims, now young men in their 20s, told police how the previously respected teacher had sexually abused them over a 10-year period.
Lee, 58, was the teacher who lead Altwood School's Easter 1988 skiing trip to Untersberg, Austria, in which four boys were killed.
Mrs Allen said this week: "I've sent a letter home to parents and spoken to stu- dents.
"It's extremely sad that a 30-year career of committed service to Altwood should end so abruptly.
"In that time he was an excellent maths teacher and supported many of our young people to academic success.
"The students' main reaction was sad- ness and disappointment because he was somebody they respected.
"His colleagues and the students share a strong hope that this will not be a judgement on the school."
Lee, of Glendevon Road. Woodley, Reading, was immediately suspended from work when the complaints were first brought against him in July last year.
During the hearing last week Robert Spencer-Bernard, prosecuting, told how LM'S two victims were touched inde- cently over and under their clothing in a
variety of places.
On one occasion, the court heard, Lee, who also ran a boys football team as well as helping with a Scout group, took a boy into his bi^oom after a ball ended up on the roof of his home. There he indecent- ly assaulted the youngster
Mr Spencer-Bernard added: "The defendant told the boys not to tell their parents.
"After the abuse he would sometimes give them extra money or sweets - there was no suggestion of any threat or any- thing of significance in that direction."
Sheelagh Davies, defending, passed on a raft of references to Judge Stanley Spence from supporters and well-wishes who wanted to register their high regard for Lee.
Mrs Davies said: "He was a gifted and caring teacher. There is no other sugges-tion that other children have been involved. The breach of trust is slightly reduced because the boys were not taught by him.
"He cannot explain why or how he came to commit theses offences. This man gave his time for many years to the betterment of children."
In jailing Lee Judge Spence said: "It is, and I take diose words from your counsel, a case of horror and misery and total loss to everyone concerned.
"There is very clearly genuine remorse by you. You are greatly ashamed, you have lost your employment and, I might add, quite rightly so.
"You have a desire to receive treatment for your problem but there remains a potential risk to the problem, in the shape of young boys.
"The real aggravating feature here is the very long period over which the abuse occurred - 10 years, five for each boy. In each case there was a clear breach of the trust placed in you.
"There was clearly some element of grooming and seduction.
"I note as one young boy decided, of his own volition, that the time had come when he should withdraw from the rela- tionship there was then a switch to anoth- er - highly coincidental with this tragedy in 1988.
"Your victims are still very angry and confused as to their own feelings, one said he broke his silence to save others.
"Very many others have suffered from this - the boys, parents, your own family and friends and many people who know you are greatly shocked and cannot believe it."