Retired teacher jailed over long series of sex offences against pupils

Disgraced ex-deputy head Philip Walker, 61, used his position at two secondary schools in Somerset to befriend, groom and abuse boys and girls over a 20-year period.

Bristol Crown Court heard that Walker’s behaviour was reported to the schools’ headteachers but the pupils were told not to tell tales.

Walker, who taught PE and drama, would use the cover of those lessons to get close to pupils.

He would get the girls to jump on a trampoline so he could see their underwear while also using drama role-play to indecently touch them.

Walker would ping girls’ bra straps as well as run his hands down their bottoms and touch their legs and breasts, the court was told.

He would also walk into the girls’ changing rooms after PE lessons on the pretext of speaking to other sports teachers.

Walker’s behaviour was well known among pupils, the court heard.

The offences came to light last year and Walker was arrested by police and later charged.

At an earlier hearing he pleaded guilty to 14 counts of indecent assault, including 12 against girls, between 1978 and 1988, and two against boys between 1994 and 1996.

The offences were committed against seven pupils – two aged under 13 – and the rest older.

Walker, of Brownings Road, Cannington, near Bridgwater, Somerset, pleaded not guilty to 10 other counts of the same offence between 1976 and 1990.

He also denied three counts of sexual assault against boys, by touching, from 2006 to 2008. All 13 charges he denied were ordered to lie on file.

Walker – who had been in the profession for 36 years – retired from full-time teaching in 2004 and had been fighting bowel cancer, but continued to work as a supply teacher until 2008. Walker is currently in remission.

Paul Mason, defending, said his client was truly remorseful for what he had done. Walker was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order.