Ex-teacher jailed for sex abuse of young boys

A retired teacher from a leading private school was caught for sexually abusing pupils after a victim revealed his ordeal to Vanessa Feltz’s radio show, claiming he was initially ignored by police.

Peter Burr, 73, was jailed for four years at Hove Crown Court yesterday afteradmittingninecounts of indecently assaulting four boys aged 11 to 14 at Christ’s Hospital in West Sussex between 1969 -73.

One victim tried to report the crimes at Horsham Police Station in 2000, but was being “batted back” and no further action was taken, prosecutor Ahmed Hossain said.

It was not until December 2016 the victim was prompted to email the producer of Feltz’s BBC Radio London programme when she discussed the football abuse scandal. The producer put him in touch with detectives and an inquiry was launched.

Burr is the school’s second former teacher to be jailed in as many months in separate prosecutions.

Judge Christine Henson said he had demonstrated a “gross abuse of trust” and preyed on vulnerable boys reluctant to speak out after they had been given a place attheschoolbecauseaparent had died or their family had a low income.

The court heard he invited pupils to visit his study forcakeandtowatchtelevision before fondling them. One victim described how Burr enticed them with chocolate biscuits.

Burr, a house tutor and physics teacher, also became sexually aroused when he played with boys in the swimming pool, Mr Hossain said.