A DEAD man has been convicted by a court in what is thought to be a first in UK law.

Former boarding school worker Darren Turk, 54, had been on trial at Lewes Crown Court when his body was found at his home in Fontridge Lane, Etchingham, near Hastings, earlier this month.

He was on trial for sex offences committed at Frewen College in Northiam between 1996 and 2002.

His death came on the eve of the jury considering their verdict.

Despite his death, the judge Jeremy Gold QC told jurors to give their decision and only told them after their verdict as to why Turk was no longer in the dock.

They found him guilty on ten of the charges he was facing and they acquitted him on six more.

It is believed to be the first time that a dead man has been convicted of a crime.

Turk's defence team argued that there "could be no indictment" against a dead man, and therefore no verdict. But Judge Gold overruled this, saying the complainants had a right to know what verdict the jury had reached the afternoon before Turk died.

Turk’s solicitors are now considering referring the case to the Court of Appeal.

His five-week trial had heard that he molested boys aged between 11 and 15 at Frewen College between 1996 and 2002.

He had been ‘head of care’ at the school for children with learning difficulties, but was not a teacher.

Turk was charged by Sussex Police last year with 14 offences, including rape and indecent assault.

The charges did not involve any staff or pupils currently at the school.

A spokesman for the judiciary said: "The judge took the view that the complainants were entitled to know the jury’s verdicts despite the defendant’s death, in the knowledge that the jury had reached some verdicts, whatever they might be."

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Mr Turk was found dead at his home. There are no suspicious circumstances and the coroner’s officer has been informed."