Keith Tait 79

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A FORMER headmaster and parish councillor who drove an express train through his victims childhood has been locked up after sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy.

Keith Tait, 77, a former headteacher at an Essex school, hid behind his standing in society as he repeatedly abused a child.

Following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, he was convicted of five counts of indecent assault.

Tait, of North Mill Place, Halstead, represented the Shelley ward on Ongar Town Council for 36 years from 1977 until 2013 and was involved with various charities.

The abuse was carried out against the teenager in the 1980s.

At the same court, Judge Timothy Walker said the victim had been hitchhiking when he was picked up by a passing Tait.

Your grooming of him began, he said.

His mother expressed concern about the disparity in age between you and him, but was reassured when she discerned you were a teacher.

The court was told Tait gave his victim driving lessons and took him to a caravan in Great Yarmouth, where further abuse was carried out.

Judge Walker said Tait warned the victim if he spoke out about the abuse, he would be in trouble and would be disqualified from driving.

In a written statement read to the court, Taits victim, from Colchester, said he had struggled with writing even the first paragraph and on one occasion was almost physically sick.

He is an evil opportunist who was lucky to find me - a confused, uncertain, emotionally weakened boy, he said.

The court heard Tait had won over the victims mother, damaging their relationship for the rest of her life.

He said Taits silver tongue had charmed her, adding: My greatest regret, and it is one which has never left me, is my failure to bridge the chasm between us.

The victim said he had felt too guilty and disgusted to speak out.

I was a child and children dont think as adults do, he added.

He said Taits ability to manipulate may have been put to better use as a politician or negotiator, but instead he used it to get what he wanted.

Unfortunately what he wanted was me, he said.

He drove an express train through my childhood.

Jennifer Dempster QC, mitigating, said given Taits age and health difficulties, which include arthritis, prison would be a particularly harsh place for him.

She said a lengthy police investigation and, later, court proceedings, had been hanging over him for nine years.

That has brought about, over that extended period, particularly anxious times for him and his wife," she said.

The court heard Tait is the main carer for his unwell wife, with his imprisonment set to have an enormous impact on her.

Judge Walker said Taits abuse had a lifelong impact on his victim, adding: You abused your position within society to facilitate your offending.

He sentenced Tait to six and a half years imprisonment.

He will remain on the sex offender register for life and is banned from working with children.