Former PE teacher jailed for sex offences against four girls

Justice caught up with Keith Fletcher, 57, who admitted 24 child sex offences involving four girls under 16 from 1975 to 1984.

York Crown Court was told he was flattered by the attention he received from the teenage girls as a newly qualified teacher at Scalby School, Scarborough.

He would take them to his flat and abuse them. Once he persuaded two of his victims to go back to his flat, where he coerced them into abuse.

Judge Christopher Batty said it was a "sad day" as Fletcher was a "highly regarded member of the community, very impressive sports coach and someone in the community loved very dearly".

Fletcher was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and placed on a Sexual Offences Prevention order which severely restricts his contact with young women.

The judge continued: "You did not give a jot about these girls, who were young, naive, they were simply impressionable."

Fletcher, of Hampton Road, Scarborough, met his first victim was, aged 15, in a pub. She went back to his flat where they had sex. The second victim was also aged 15.

When rumours of the relationship led to questions by the school the victim was told to deny everything apart from running errands for the PE teacher.

Fletcher used a belt and whip on the girl – who "thought they had a future together" – as well as restraints. The third victim was 13 when he met her. He took the girl's virginity when she turned 15 and whipped her during sex.

The fourth girl was groped at a school disco where Fletcher was helping out. Her complaint triggered the police investigation.

Two victims attended yesterday's sentencing. Although the sexual activity was consensual, the court heard the women were "significantly traumatised".

In mitigation, Simon Reevell said there was no coercion involved and his client did not set out to act as a criminal.