A FORMER maths teacher at St Benedict’s School has escaped jail after being convicted for indecently assaulting a pupil during private tutorials.
Stephen Skelton, 63, who previously taught at Ealing Abbey and is now retired, was found guilty last Thursday (December 8) at Isleworth Crown Court of two counts of sexual assault on two boys, aged under 16 years at the time of the offences, in 1984 and 1993.
Skelton, who now lives near Southampton, had previously denied the two counts. He was sentenced to a six month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and will stay on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. He was also ordered by the court not to have any contact with children under the age of 16.
Detective Constable Christine Hobson of the Child Abuse Investigation Team at Northwood said:
"Stephen Skelton completely abused the trust of the victims’ families and sexually assaulted these boys whilst providing tutoring lessons in his own home.
"Thanks to the courage of the victims in making statements and being prepared to give evidence, we have successfully managed to bring the perpetrator to justice many years after he had, no doubt, thought he had
got away with it.
"The two allegations were strikingly similar, despite the fact that they came from two separate pupils who have never met, from two different schools Skelton taught at, 10 years apart.
"Skelton has worked for many schools in and around Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire and Hampshire and we would encourage any similar victims of such crimes to make contact with police.
"They will be treated with respect and their allegations will be taken seriously."
Please contact the Metropolitan Police Child Abuse Investigation Team at Northwood on 0208 246 1901.
