Former teacher given 13 years for abusing children in his care

Jonathan O'Brien, aged 56, was sentenced after being found guilty of 15 counts of indecent assault, which took place during the 1980s.

Six of his victims were boys at Winterfold House in Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster.

He also assaulted three pupils at The Oratory School, near Reading.

O'Brien, of Fairfield Road, Bosham, West Sussex, had denied all the charges, but was convicted following a four-week trial.

Passing sentence at Chichester Crown Court yesterday, Judge Richard Fraser said some of his victims were unable to hold back tears as they relived the abuse in court.

He said: "It was abundantly clear from the understandably emotional evidence they gave during your trial that your actions have left a very dark shadow which each them has had to find ways to deal with."

A jury in the trial in December heard that O'Brien was a 'charming, convivial and attractive man outside of the school environment' and would 'easily dazzle those he met'.

He would exploit friendships between pupils, use extra tuition sessions to get one-to-one contact with his victims, as well as ingratiating himself with the boys' families, jurors heard. At yesterday's hearing, O'Brien was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order he is also banned from living or sleeping with a child under the age of 16 on his release.

Det Sgt Steve Cook, who led the investigation for North Worcestershire CID, said that inquiries were sparked in November in 2012 when a man came forward.

The man claimed he had been sexually abused at Winterfold School by O'Brien, who taught subjects including sports and photography there in the early 80s.

Further victims contacted the police after O'Brien was initially arrested and charged in February last year.

Det Sgt Cook said: "O'Brien engaged in the systematic abuse of boys over a long period of time. In doing so he also disgracefully abused the position of trust he was in."