Paedophile Headteacher Jailed For 21 Years
2:58pm, Monday September 06, 2010
Philip Thomas
A former headteacher who abused at least a dozen schoolboys has been jailed for 21 years.
<!-- VIDEO PLAYER START --> <!---->
Derek Slade admitted being a paedophile
Derek Slade was last week convicted of more than 50 offences of child abuse during the 1970s and 1980s. The 61-year-old was found guilty at Ipswich Crown Court of beating and sexually assaulting 12 boys between the ages of eight and 13 between 1978 and 1983. Slade ran St George's private school, which was initially based in Wicklewood, Norfolk, and which then moved to Great Finborough, Suffolk.
The jury heard that Slade hit boys with a slipper, a table tennis bat and his bare hand, then ordered youngsters to write about "whackings I have had". He 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".
Slade had admitted assault, indecent assault and child pornography offences. He denied other allegations of assault and indecent assault but was found guilty. He admitted being a paedophile and told jurors that there was a sexual motive behind the corporal punishment he inflicted.
