RICHARD SMALL JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN AMERSHAM AND WOLVERHAMPTON

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Amersham and Wolverhampton, Richard Small, a 57-year-old former history teacher, has been sentenced to four years in prison for a series of serious sexual offenses committed during the early 1980s. The crimes took place at Dr Challoner's Grammar School for Boys, located in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, where Small was employed as an educator at the time.

According to the findings presented in Reading Crown Court, Small carried out a total of five sexual assaults on three teenage boys over a span of two years, from 1982 to 1984. The court heard detailed accounts of how Small exploited his position of authority and trust to commit these heinous acts. Judge Stanley Spence, presiding over the case, emphasized the gravity of Small’s breaches of trust, describing his actions as “total and utter breaches of your position of trust as a teacher.”

As part of his sentence, Judge Spence ordered Small to be permanently listed on the sex offenders’ register and prohibited him from working with children in any capacity. The judge’s stern words underscored the severity of the crimes and the lasting impact they have on victims.

One of the victims, Edward Short, who is now 36 years old and resides in Croyde, Devon, chose to waive his right to anonymity to publicly express his feelings about the sentence. Mr Short stated, “I can start living my life now, it’s been hanging over me for 20 years.” He further reflected on the enduring effects of the abuse, saying, “The judge was spot on. I don’t think the people who commit these crimes have any idea of how lasting the effect is.”

Mr Short revealed that he is married and has two daughters, but he continues to be on antidepressants, highlighting the long-term psychological scars left by Small’s actions. During the court proceedings, prosecutor Neil Moore described Small’s conduct as not only abusive but also manipulative. Moore explained that Small was known to use physical violence in the classroom to maintain discipline, but he also exploited his authoritative position to make inappropriate advances towards the students.

Moore added that many pupils, including those targeted by Small, often felt flattered by the attention, mistakenly believing that the teacher’s behavior was a form of favoritism or kindness. This misconception, coupled with Small’s use of physical force, created an environment where vulnerable students were manipulated into accepting or tolerating the abuse, often without fully understanding the gravity of the situation at the time.

The case has brought to light the disturbing reality of abuse within educational institutions and the importance of safeguarding measures to protect students from exploitation by trusted adults. Richard Small’s sentencing marks a significant step in addressing past abuses and reinforcing the need for vigilance in safeguarding children’s welfare.