A former deputy headmaster of a Hayes school has been jailed for indecently assaulting boys during school camping trips in the 1970s and 80s.
Now police are urging any other victims to come forward.
Anthony Roy Dowsing, 69, a former deputy headmaster of Hayes Park Junior School, was sentenced on Friday, May 16 at Isleworth Crown Court to four years’ jail, for five counts of indecent assault on boys under the age of 14, and nine counts of possessing indecent images of children.
The paedophile came to the attention of police in 2013, after a man came forward to report that he had been indecently assaulted as a child by Dowsing during a school trip approximately 35 years ago.
Dowsing of West Meadow Road, Brauton, Devon, admitted the offences in February. He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
After the man’s accusation, an investigation was immediately started by the Metropolitan police, which led to a further three victims being identified, all between seven and 10 years old at the time. All five historic sexual assaults had taken place on the four boys between 1976 and 1985.
Dowsing was arrested at his home in April 2013, and during a search officers seized a large quantity of indecent images of children appearing on his computer, ranging from level one, to level five: the most serious.
Detective Constable Kate McDuff said: “This is a historical case going back nearly 40 years, where Dowsing used his position of trust as a deputy headteacher to abuse vulnerable children over a nine year period.
“We commend the actions of all four brave victims who have come forward to report Dowsing’s sickening actions. We take all allegations of child abuse and sexual assault extremely seriously regardless of how long ago the offences took place.
“Dowsing is known to have worked with a number of children’s clubs and charities in the London area and there may be further victims of his abuse who we would urge to come forward and speak to us.”
