Retired teacher jailed for historic sex abuse

A RETIRED schoolteacher has been jailed for abusing a boy in the 1970s.

Malcolm Woodcock, 76, of Milton Demeral, Holsworthy, Devon, had pleaded not guilty to eight counts of indecent assault of a boy, but was convicted of all charges by unanimous verdict at Oxford Crown Court last month.

Last week, he was given a three-and-a-half year sentence.

The charges relate to offences that occurred while Woodcock worked as a teacher in Shiplake College during the 1970s.

The victim, a teenage boy at the time, was indecently assaulted by Woodcock while he was a student and the court heard that the offences took place within the college grounds and other locations.

Woodcock was charged on August 18 last year following an investigation by Thames Valley Police.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Karen Zoldan of Cowley station, said: “Woodcock was a teacher in Shiplake College and in a position of trust which he abused by indecently assaulting his victim.

“The victim in this case bravely came forward to report the abuse he suffered more than 40 years ago. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his courage and support of this investigation. “He had to endure giving evidence through the trial in court which caused extra distress.

“I now hope that the healing process can begin and this conviction will provide some form of closure for him.

“Thames Valley Police takes reports of this nature extremely seriously and will always thoroughly investigate no matter if the offences were recent or non-recent.”