GORDON FLEMING OF MACHYNLLETH AND OSWESTRY: HORRIFIC CHILD SEX ABUSE IN WALES AND SHROPSHIRE

In a case that has shocked communities across Mid and North Wales as well as parts of Shropshire, Gordon Fleming, a former primary school headteacher, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a prolonged and heinous pattern of sexual abuse involving 44 young children over a span of 15 years. The crimes, which spanned from 1977 to 1991, included the assault of pupils as young as seven years old, with many victims recounting the profound and lasting impact Fleming’s actions have had on their lives.

Fleming, aged 66 and originally from Oswestry, Shropshire, was found guilty at Swansea Crown Court of sexually assaulting 35 girls. During the sentencing, he was seen waving and blowing a kiss to his wife, Helen, as he was led away to the cells, a gesture that underscored the disturbing nature of his conduct. The court heard that Fleming’s abuse was not an isolated incident but part of a systematic pattern of predatory behavior that he concealed for decades.

The court also revealed that Fleming had previously served a four-year sentence after admitting to sexually assaulting nine girls in 1992. This earlier conviction was at Chester Crown Court, and it was noted that Fleming’s pattern of abuse extended well beyond that period. The judge described Fleming as a “wicked man,” emphasizing the extensive harm he caused to so many innocent children, many of whom were vulnerable and trusting due to their young age and the authority Fleming held as their teacher.

Prosecutor Robin Rouch detailed the disturbing methods Fleming employed. He explained that Fleming would gyrate his body against pupils, often at a height where their faces were level with his crotch, while making lewd comments and laughing. The court was told that Fleming would give sex education lessons using pupils as young as seven to demonstrate sexual positions, instructing them to make sex noises and thrust their fingers into fists to mimic intercourse. These lessons, which included descriptions of missionary and doggy style positions, were part of Fleming’s gross misconduct.

In addition to these sexual assaults, Fleming also used his position to touch girls intimately during lessons, including guitar and gymnastics classes. One of his victims, now 44, recounted how Fleming’s abuse had left her with an eating disorder and drug problems. She, now a university lecturer and child counselor, described her childhood trauma: “I was a small child — he was in a position of power. He would shut the classroom door and I would be trapped. I watched as he did the same thing to my younger sister and was helpless to protect her. Gordon Fleming was very angry and intimidating — purple veins would pop out of his forehead. I once saw him hit a table so hard it broke in two.”

Many former pupils provided victim impact statements, describing daily assaults and the lasting scars Fleming’s abuse left on their lives. One terrified girl confided in a classmate about her experiences, only to be told, “That’s what Mr Fleming does.”

In August 2017, Fleming admitted to further child sex offences, pleading guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault on girls under 13, committed during the 1980s. These latest charges brought the total number of victims to 35, with the court scheduling his sentencing for September 15. The judge indicated that the sentencing process could take a day due to the volume of victim impact statements to be read.

Earlier, in April 2017, Fleming had admitted to sexually abusing 24 pupils in the 1970s and 80s while working at primary schools in North Wales, including Machynlleth. He pleaded guilty to 24 charges of indecent assault, acknowledging systematic abuse of young girls entrusted to his care. The court was told that Fleming’s misconduct was a serious breach of trust, and he was ordered to register as a sex offender immediately. He was also refused bail due to the severity of his crimes.

Throughout these proceedings, Fleming’s wife, Helen, was present in the courtroom, and he was seen blowing her a kiss before being taken into custody. His history of offending includes a previous three-year sentence at Chester Crown Court in 1992 for similar charges while he was headmaster at a village school near Welshpool. The current charges relate to his time teaching at another primary school in North Wales, with police investigations revealing that numerous pupils had reported inappropriate conduct during his tenure from 1976 to 1981. The victims, who are now adults, are expected to give impact statements at Fleming’s upcoming sentencing in May, as the police continue their efforts to bring justice for all those affected by his actions.