A FORMER chaplain at an preparatory school in Harrow has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for sexually abusing six children.
Anglican priest Leslie Carter, 84, admitted 18 indecent assaults on boys, four of them pupils at Quainton Hall School in Hindes Road where he began as a chaplain in 1968.
Carter was sentenced on Monday at Harrow Crown Court when it was explained the youngest victim was just seven years old and the allegations only came to light in 2004.
Detective Constable Rachel Snow, from the Metropolitan Police's Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: "The abuse that Carter subjected these boys to has had devastating consequences.
"The fact that these crimes were committed over 30 years ago is not a factor - this sentence sends out a clear message that police will take
any allegations of abuse seriously, they will be thoroughly investigated and any perpetrators will be brought to justice.
"Carter is an unrepentant paedophile who preyed on any vulnerable child that came in contact with him. He had a particular preference for young
boys.
"There are undoubtedly other victims of Carter's who have not yet come forward. I would urge anyone who has been sexually abused by
Carter, or anyone else, to make contact with the police."
Carter, of Bathwick Street, Bath, Somerset, groomed his victims by engineering situations when he could be alone with them. He carried out his assaults in his home, in scout huts and in the church in the school grounds.
The elderly defendant admitted on September 13 nine counts of indecent assault between 1956 and 1978.
The victims were three boys aged between 7 and 12 years old - two attended a South African school where Carter taught prior to Quainton Hall.
Publicity of the September hearing prompted other victims to come forward, and Carter was rearrested and charged with a further nine counts of indecent assault between 1975 and 1977 on three boys aged between 8 and 14.
He admitted these additional counts at Monday's sentencing hearing. The judge ordered 12 other indecent assault charges and two of buggery to lie on file.
Carter, who had been on conditional bail, was previously ordered to sign the sex offenders register and was banned from working with children ever again.
A Quainton Hall School statement said: "Despite the fact that these events took place over 30 years ago, the school has taken steps to inform and reassure parents and staff that it has, and continues to, stringently adhere to all child protection policies and procedures."
n The Metropolitan Police's Child Abuse Investigation Team at Edgware can be reached on 020 8733 3575.