A TEACHER who abused schoolgirls in a string of historic sex assaults has been jailed.

Graham Tattersall, a former school teacher at Garth Hill School, Bracknell, was found guilty following a seven-day trial at Reading Crown Court.

The court heard how Tattersall, 68, of Church Street, Windsor, worked as a teacher at the Sandy Lane school at various times between 1979 and 1991.

It was during this time that he sexually assaulted a number of female victims aged between 12 and 16 years old.

The court heard how attacks happened in classrooms at the school, at his former home address, and in his car when he was meant to be dropping children home.

Following a three-year investigation into the assaults, the 68 year old was brought before a jury at Reading Crown Court.

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He was unanimously found guilty last Friday, October 30, of one count of attempted rape, seven counts of indecent assault, and four counts of indecency with a child.

He was found not guilty of one count of rape.

Thames Valley Police said the offences came to light when a victim reported an historic assault to officers in 2017.

During the investigation, Thames Valley Police appealed for information and a number of other victims came forward.

Tattersall was arrested in July 2018, and charged in January 17, 2020.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Alethea Cox, of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Tattersall offended against children at various points between 1979 and 1991, and this was while he was in a position of trust as a teacher at the school.

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“We have conducted a thorough three-year investigation into the offences that came to light, and I am pleased that we have been able to bring the right verdict for all of the victims.

“This has been an emotive case for all the women, who had buried the things that happened to them and attempted to move on with their lives.

“I would like to thank them all personally for coming forward and putting their trust in the police to bring Tattersall to justice.

“These convictions show that despite the passage of time, we will believe victims of sex offences and will investigate offences and support victims throughout the process.

“I would like to urge anybody who has felt unable to report similar such incidents from the past to please come forward.

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“Even if it has been many months, years, or even decades since offences took place, it is never too late for an investigation, and we will continue to work hard for all victims to bring offenders to justice.

“Tattersall will now have to serve a term of imprisonment to reflect upon his actions, and I hope that the conviction and subsequent sentence will serve as some form of closure for all of his victims.”

Tattersall was sentenced today at Reading Crown Court to 12 years in prison.