Ex-headteacher jailed for abuse

Former school head Derek Slade was given a 21-year jail term for abusing boy pupils
12 April 2012

A former boarding school head convicted of abusing boy pupils during the 1970s and 1980s has been handed a 21-year jail term.

Derek Slade, 61, of Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, had been convicted of more than 50 offences.

A jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting and beating 12 boys aged between eight and 13 between 1978 and 1983 following at trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

Jurors heard that Slade ran St George's private school, which was initially based in Wicklewood, Norfolk, then moved to Great Finborough, Suffolk, in 1980.

Prosecutors said Slade hit boys with a slipper, a table tennis bat and his bare hand then ordered youngsters to write about "whackings I have had".

Slade was arrested after former pupils complained two years ago. One victim said he had never told his parents what had happened, while another described Slade's assaults as "reigns of terror".

He had admitted assault, indecent assault and child pornography offences. He denied other allegations of assault and indecent assault, but was found guilty.

Slade admitted being a paedophile and told jurors that there was a sexual motive behind the corporal punishment he inflicted.

But he denied more serious sexual assaults, including prosecution allegations that he hosted "midnight feasts" where boys would be abused.

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