Ex-primary head jailed for sex abuse of pupils
APRIMARY school head teacher who systematically sexually abused dozens of pupils has been jailed for 10 years.
Gordon Fleming, 66, indecently touched 44 girls aged as young as seven over a 15-year period when he taught at three schools in Wales.
Swansea Crown Court heard that schoolgirls would “rush” from his classroom at the end of lessons to escape being abused.
Fleming taught graphic lessons on reproduction and instructed schoolgirls to act out sexual positions in front of their classmates. During the classes, he instructed pupils to simulate sex with their hands and make sexual noises as they sat in a circle.
Judge Geraint Walters said Fleming, of Oswestry, Shropshire, left some of his victims with “severe psychological harm”.
“They were young, naive, innocent and respectful of your position and your obvious authority,” the judge told Fleming. “Scary, angry and predatory are all words that describe the wickedness of what you did.
“What is remarkable about this case is the scale of your offending over such a significant period of time, affecting the lives of so many.”
The judge described Fleming’s abuse as “systematic” and said it was “routinely repeated over and over again”.
Prosecuting, Robin Rouch said Fleming abused girls aged seven to 11 when he worked as a teacher and head teacher at three schools in Wales.
In 1992 he was jailed for four years at Chester Crown Court after admitting nine counts of indecently assaulting pupils at one school.
Mr Rouch said this related to nine victims, but it is believed that Fleming asked for other offences, relating to other girls, to be taken into consideration.
An investigation into Fleming’s conduct at all three schools from the 1970s to the 1990s was launched after a number of pupils reported being abused by him.
Three came forward in 2011, while another provided police with a list of classmates she believed had also been touched by Fleming in 2014.
Victims described how Fleming would touch them on an almost daily basis.
He would lie on top of some of the girls and simulate sex, and force them to touch him through his trousers.
Some parents complained about Fleming’s behaviour, but he continued to abuse their children.
In February of this year Fleming admitted 24 counts of indecently touching girls aged under 13, relating to 24 victims. He admitted a further 11 counts, relating to 11 girls, in August.
Representing Fleming, Dyfed Thomas said his client showed genuine remorse and “fully realises” the consequences of his actions.
Speaking after the case, Nicola Powell, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Gordon Fleming hid behind his reputation as a well-respected teacher for decades.
“He used his authority to fulfil his own sexual gratification.”
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