Ronald Wotton jailed for historic sex offences Published duration 5 November 2014

media caption Ronald Wotton - who taught at a catholic primary school in East Durham - assaulted boys and girls aged nine and 10 as they read to him

Victims of a sexualy abusive teacher feigned illness, and in one case swallowed washing up liquid in order to avoid him, a court has been told.

Ronald Wotton pleaded guilty to 17 counts of indecent assault, three of indecency with a male and one of indecency with a child.

The 73-year-old, of Park Lane, Murton, Seaham, was jailed for five years.

Teesside Crown Court heard the offences took place at a Roman Catholic school between 1969 and 1980.

Judge Howard Crowson said: "You were sadly operating at a time when, to most of the adult public, it was inconceivable for this type of offending to be committed by a teacher."

'Almost daily abuse'

The hearing was told that over the years children complained to the headteacher of being touched by Wotton, but were not believed and even forced to apologise to him.

He was also confronted by the furious parents of his victims - 20 former pupils complained to police - but nothing was done, the court heard.

image copyright Durham Police image caption Ronald Wotton, 73, pleaded guilty to 17 sex offences committed between 1969 to 1980

Prosecutor Joanne Kidd said some of Wotton's victims recalled almost daily abuse.

Wotton was forced to retire in 1980 because of allegations against him, the court was told.

The police began investigating last year when one of his victims came forward amid the publicity surrounding Jimmy Savile's offending.