Child sex offender jailed after fleeing country

Former teacher from Dundee found guilty in his absence of abusing boy more than 30 years ago

A former teacher from Dundee who is wanted by courts in England and Scotland has been jailed in his absence for sexually abusing a boy on a school trip more than 30 years ago.

Roderick Beaumont had been granted bail after pleading not guilty to two charges of indecently assaulting the nine-year-old boy in around 1980.

But when 62-year-old Beaumont, of Braehead, Methven Walk, Dundee, failed to turn up for his trial at Warwick Crown Court, he was tried in his absence and convicted of both charges.

Beaumont was believed to have fled to Albania, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, after which a European arrest warrant was also granted.

Having heard that he has still not been apprehended, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC, who said Beaumont poses “a clear and present danger” to children,’ sentenced him in his absence.

Passing an extended sentence of four years, of which Beaumont will have to serve at least two-thirds before he can even be considered for parole, the judge also imposed a five-year extension to the time he will then spend on licence, and ordered him to register as a sex offender for life.

Prosecutor Graeme Simpson had told the jury that in around 1980 Beaumont, who now describes himself as a “global coach,” was working as a teacher at a school in Solihull, near Birmingham.

During a school trip with a group of youngsters, he had taken a boy aged eight or nine out of his bed and taken him into another room where he got the boy to perform a sex act.

On a later occasion, at Beaumont’s home, he abused the boy again.

The offences only came to light last year.

Mr Simpson said the matter predated an indecent assault on a child under the age of 16 in 1983, for which he appeared at the court in 1984 and was given a sixmonth suspended sentence.

In October last year he pleaded guilty at Airdrie Sheriff Court to sending messages of a sexual nature to a 14-year-old boy.

The case was adjourned and he was freed on bail for reports to be prepared but he failed to turn up to be sentenced in December.

He was said to have caught a flight from Edinburgh to Albania with £9,000 in cash in his possession.

It is rumoured he has since moved on to Mexico.

Jailing Beaumont for the Solihull offence, Judge Lockhart observed: “There was a breach of trust, and a significant one.

“I am absolutely satisfied this man presents a clear and present danger which could result in serious psychological or physical harm. “Mr Beaumont is not here. “In due course he will no doubt be arrested and brought before a court,” he said.

“When he is arrested, he should be brought before me.”