Former head teacher jailed for sexual abuse

Burton Upon Trent - A former boarding school teacher from Staffordshire has been jailed for 21 years after he sexually abused and hit children.

Derek Slade of Burton-on-Trent was convicted of offences against 12 boys between the ages of eight and 13. Ipswich Crown Court heard that the abuse by Mr Slade took place between 1978 and 1983 in Wicklewood School Norfolk and Great Finborough School in Suffolk. Jurors also heard how Slade hit boys with a slipper, table tennis bat and his hands. Police were first contacted in June 2000 with allegations of assault against Slade but were unable to pinpoint his whereabouts. Further allegations were then made in 2008 and 2009 with more pupils claiming that Mr Slade had abused them. Slade, who has no teaching qualifications, was arrested earlier this year. He admitted to assaults, indecent assault and child pornography offences. But he denied other allegations of assaults and indecent assaults of which he was later found guilty of after a one month trial. A former pupil of the head teacher described him as experienced in the art of beating; he then recalled the first time he was hit by Slade on his second day of school. The student further added he must never leave prison as long as he lives.