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A FORMER housemaster at an upmarket boarding school in Reigate has been jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of a string of historic sexual offences against two boys there.

Colin York, 62, was jailed at Guildford Crown Court last Thursday (May 2) after a jury convicted him of five charges of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child.

During a trial, jurors heard how York, of Hoades Hill in Wickham, Hampshire, abused his position as assistant housemaster at the Royal Alexandra & Albert School to sexually abuse two young boys in the 1970s.

The court was told that the defendant, who has worked as an occupational therapist since his resignation more than 40 years ago, was jailed for 28 months in 2011 after being convicted for sexually abusing two other boys at the school. He was found guilty of 10 offences of gross indecency with a child and three of indecent assault.

Prosecutor Christopher Hehir said that as a result of the earlier convictions - which the defendant still denies - two men contacted the police to say they had also been abused by York while they were pupils at the Royal Alexandra & Albert.

"Both men clearly remember what was done to them by Colin York," Mr Hehir said.

"It is no exaggeration to say that it has haunted them ever since."

He said York's "live-in" job involved being on night duty for pupils in their dormitories and looking after the "pastoral" needs of some of the boys.

"His responsibilities included supervising the boys at night and being 'on call' during the night for boys who needed assistance," Mr Hehir added.

'Abused trust'

He said Complainant A and Complainant B plus the two other pupils, whose accounts were believed by jurors in the former trial two years ago, had all made their allegations "separately".

Mr Hehir added: "How likely is it that four middle-aged men should quite separately accuse their school housemaster of sexually abusing them four decades before, if nothing of the sort happened?

"The prosecution suggest, of course, that it is utterly improbable.

"In those circumstances, the defendant's convictions for sexual offences against the other two former pupils support the evidence of Complainant A and Complainant B about what was done to them."

The court was told the two boys were touched inappropriately and forced to touch York, while he also performed a sex act on one of them.

Jurors heard that when the defendant was interviewed by police he said the alleged offences never happened but could not think why either complainant would make false allegations against him.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Trudie Harrison, from East Surrey Public Protection Unit, said: "York was a respected member of society who abused the trust people placed in him.

"I hope this sentence sends out a clear message to people like him that no matter how old the allegation is, we will carry out a thorough investigation in an attempt to bring offenders to justice.

"I would like to praise the two victims for the bravery that they have shown throughout the investigation and subsequent court case, and although this sentence will never undo the damage York caused it will make sure people are protected from him for some time.”