Former teacher jailed for sexually abusing pupils

Police custody image of Terrence John Waters. He has dark hair, a grey beard and is wearing tortoiseshell glasses attached to a cord and a light grey-coloured top.Image source, Surrey Police
Image caption,

Terrence John Waters worked as an art teacher at a former Surrey prep school

  • Published

A former art teacher who sexually abused students at a school in Surrey where he taught has been jailed for 14 years.

Terrence John Waters, 82, of Wren Garth in Beeford, East Yorkshire, admitted 32 charges of indecency and sexual assault and was convicted of four other sexual offences at Hull Crown Court.

The majority of the abuse, which involved 12 of his former pupils, took place between 1978 and 1984 in the Woking area, Surrey Police said.

Waters also sexually abused two boys at several other locations between 1984 and 1988, the force said.

Detectives said Waters was able to use his position as a teacher to target young boys at the former Allen House Prep School in Hook Heath, Woking.

The abuse took place in the art building which was located away from the main school building.

He also organised camping trips during the school holidays where further abuse took place, officers said.

In a victim impact statement, one man, who was nine years old when he was sexually assaulted, said the former teacher's offending had "stolen an important part of my childhood innocence".

"His actions have had a profound effect on my life that has lasted right up to this day," said the victim.

"I have had to repeatedly relive those experiences over the last five years since giving my statement to police and giving evidence at this trial.

"The emotional toll is something that no amount of money can repair."

Exterior of Hull Crown Court: a Y-shaped three-storey modern red brick building with central glass dome and steps leading up to the main doorway
Image caption,

Waters was jailed at Hull Crown Court

Det Insp Ross Linaker said officers carried out a "lengthy and complex investigation".

"Waters was a sexual predator who used his position as a trusted member of staff at a well-respected school to abuse and violate innocent young boys," he said.

Waters was sentenced to 14 years in prison with a one-year extended licence.

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