Thatcham teacher jailed for child sex offences

Former head of house at Kennet School Robert Neill imprisoned

A former Kennet School teacher who "abused his position of trust" to sexually assault boys has been jailed.

Robert Alan Neill, aged 63, was found guilty of 10 counts of sexual offences, including raping a boy under 16, between 1988 and 2003.

Mr Neill, of Park Lane, Thatcham denied all 10 charges against five victims, all boys aged under 13, and branded his victims liars and fantasists.

But a jury at Reading Crown Court found Mr Neill unanimously guilty on January 29.

At the trial jurors had heard that the boy who was raped by Neill had suffered injuries lasting days - but that the mental scars had lasted a lifetime.

Mr Neill is now facing 21 years behind bars for his crimes.

Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Adrian Foster, said: "The emotional impact, on the victims and their families, of the abhorrent actions of this man is impossible to quantify.

"I hope that the conviction and sentence gives some small comfort to them. Our thoughts are very much with them all at this time.”

See today's Newbury Weekly News for a report of the sentencing and reaction.