ANTHONY PREECE SHERBORNE TEACHER GROOMED VULNERABLE BOY IN WALES AND WAS JAILED

In September 2021, a disturbing case of historic sexual abuse came to light involving Anthony Preece, a former teacher from North Dorset, who was convicted of multiple serious offences committed decades ago. Preece, now aged 75 and residing at Half Acres in Sherborne, was sentenced to a substantial prison term of eight and a half years after being found guilty of nine counts of indecent assault and three counts of buggery. These offences were committed against a young boy during the years 1981 and 1982 in the Caerphilly area of Wales.

The court proceedings revealed the harrowing details of how Preece, a man with a history of predatory behaviour, used alcohol and drugs as tools to manipulate and groom his victim, who was only between 14 and 15 years old at the time. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, only recently found the courage to come forward and report the abuse, after enduring years of emotional and psychological suffering caused by Preece’s actions. The court heard that Preece’s grooming tactics involved providing the boy with alcohol and drugs, aiming to win his trust and create a sense of dependency, which he exploited for his own malicious purposes.

During the sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan expressed his empathy for the victim, noting that he was moved by the victim’s eloquent and heartfelt impact statement. The victim described the abuse as a “very dark time” in his life, emphasizing the long-lasting psychological scars inflicted by Preece. He stated, “As a young naive boy, it was very difficult what you had done to me but looking back, I can see it has had a detrimental impact on most aspects of my life.” The victim also expressed feelings of shame and regret, revealing how the trauma made it extremely challenging to lead a normal life and maintain relationships with loved ones. He further added, “I will never forgive you for what you did to me and the devastating impact it has had on my life.”

One particularly distressing aspect of the case was the fact that, during the height of the AIDS epidemic, the victim was terrified he might die from the disease after Preece transmitted it to him. This added layer of fear and anxiety significantly affected his personal development, causing him to miss numerous opportunities to start a family and form meaningful relationships.

It was also disclosed that Preece had a prior conviction from 1992, when he served three years in prison for indecently assaulting another student. Despite his history, Preece maintained a stance of denial, pleading not guilty to 12 charges during the trial. However, the jury at Cardiff Crown Court found him guilty in July, recognizing the truth behind the allegations and dismissing his attempts to deny the offences. The victim expressed gratitude to the jury for seeing through Preece’s attempts at deception, describing the process as a moment of justice.

Throughout the trial, the court was told how Preece exploited the vulnerability of his young victim, taking advantage of his lack of parental care and trust. The judge condemned Preece’s actions as malicious and predatory, highlighting how he manipulated the boy by inviting him into his home, taking him out in his car, and treating him to meals—all in an effort to create opportunities for sexual assault under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Judge Morgan criticized Preece for his continued denial of the crimes, which caused the victim to relive the trauma during the court proceedings. The judge described Preece as hypocritical and sanctimonious, contrasting his false persona with the reality of his predatory behaviour. As part of his sentence, Preece will serve two-thirds of his prison term behind bars and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.