NEIL FRANCIS FROM EAST COWTON CONVICTED OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE AFTER OVER A DECADE

In a significant development in the ongoing fight against child abuse, Neil Francis, a former teacher from East Cowton, has been found guilty of multiple counts of sexual misconduct involving young girls. The conviction was handed down at Amersham Crown Court in Buckinghamshire, where the jury convicted him of 19 counts of sexual assault and eight counts of indecent assault.

Neil Francis, aged 46 and previously residing on Conyers Road in East Cowton, was accused of abusing 11 female pupils during his tenure as an educator in Milton Keynes during the early 2000s. The allegations spanned several years, with the victims ranging in age and the abuse reportedly occurring both in and outside the classroom setting.

The case initially drew attention in June 2009, when Francis was tried at Teesside Crown Court in Ingleby Barwick. At that time, he was acquitted of eight counts of sexual assault after a jury deliberated for only 45 minutes, indicating a swift and unanimous decision in his favor. The charges at that trial involved allegations that Francis had touched three girls under the age of 13 inappropriately, including stroking or rubbing their arms, legs, backs, or hair.

Despite the earlier acquittal, new allegations emerged nearly eight years later, prompting a fresh investigation by Thames Valley Police. These new reports led to Francis being charged in February 2021. The subsequent trial revealed a pattern of misconduct, with the jury ultimately finding him guilty of the majority of the charges brought against him.

During the trial, Francis was also found not guilty of one count of sexual assault, and the jury was discharged on two other counts, which will be kept on file. The verdict marks a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for the victims and highlights the importance of revisiting past cases when new evidence comes to light. The case underscores the long-lasting impact of abuse and the necessity for vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from predators, regardless of the passage of time.