School bully who forced himself on fellow pupils jailed

AMAN who, as a schoolboy, sexually abused fellow pupils at a school near Bristol has been jailed.

Christopher Brewer was described in court as a bully who forced himself on two boys, Bristol Crown Court heard.

He was said to have threatened them by publishing photos he took or spreading rumours of homosexuality if they didn’t keep quiet.

The complainants delayed reporting him for well over a decade, the court was told.

When allegations were put to him Brewer, now of Wandsworth Bridge Road in London, denied wrongdoing.

But after a trial at Bristol Crown Court, a jury convicted him of 12 offences regarding the two boys.

On the first complainant charges comprised three rapes; one sexual assault and seven charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

On the second complainant Brewer was convicted of a single charge of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Recorder of Bristol Judge Peter Blair jailed him for three years.

He told Brewer: “Regarding the first complainant, he has had his life ruined by this conduct at school by you.

“He felt a complete sense of powerlessness. This was not a very long way away from sex slave.”

Brewer has to sign the Sex Offender Register and has been barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Prosecuting, Rossano Scarmardella described how Brewer visited the first boy in his bed and sexually abused him.

The court heard he repeatedly raped him and forced him to participate in sex acts.

Brewer was convicted of carrying out a single sex act on the second boy.

Defending, Nicola Cafferkey, told the court: “He was coming to terms with his homosexuality. He continues to maintain his innocence.

“He has shown some understanding of the severity of his actions.

“He was deeply sorry for the psychological harm caused by the activity he engaged in with (the first complainant). He recognises he has caused significant psychological harm to him.”

The court heard Brewer was first interviewed regarding allegations in the autumn of 2017.

He didn’t appear before a magistrates’ court until January last year.

Ms Cafferkey said Brewer had PhD funding for research into renewable energy, had papers published and had lectured globally, and prison would mean his PhD would not be completed. She said her client was in significant debt and cared for vulnerable family members.

She told he court: “The prospect of immediate custody terrifies him.”