Paedophile Teacher Keith Cavendish-Coulson Assaulted 24 Boys at Terra Nova School

Paedophile teacher Keith Cavendish-Coulson has been jailed for a string of sexual assaults on 24 boys under the age of 14 during the 1970s.

The former master at prestigious Terra Nova School, near Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, admitted 41 sample counts of indecent assault and was today sentenced to six years and nine months' imprisonment at Chester Crown Court.

All but one of the 71-year-old's victims were pupils at £13,000-a-year school Terra Nova, with some of the assaults happening during lessons. One of the victims was privately tutored by Cavendish-Coulson.

The abuse took place between 1973 and 1975 when Cavendish-Coulson, from Crookham, Berkshire, was in his early thirties.

The court heard how his victims, two of whom were in court today, changed after they were abused with one struggling to form personal relationships as a result.

During the case it emerged the French and music teacher had been allowed to resign rather than be sacked after concerns had been raised by parents and students.

The court heard how the headmaster at the time of the original revelations feared the school's name being lowered if they came out.

The Department for Education was told about the allegations, but even though Cavendish-Coulson was later barred from working at schools, he returned to teaching as a private tutor.

No action was taken against him until November 2012 when officers reopened the case following a complaint and he was re-arrested in December 2013.