Beauchamps High School teacher Gabriel Uttley jailed for sexually abusing pupils
After a five-day jury trial at Basildon Crown Court, Uttley was convicted on 13th November 2020 of seven offences of indecent assault relating to three boys and one girl. Uttley’s offences, which included performing sex acts on a pupil, took place over a six year period whilst he was employed as a teacher at Beauchamps High School in Wickford.
Uttley was jailed for four years for his crimes and was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Recorder Clegg commented that Uttley “betrayed the trust” that the parents and the school had placed in him and noted that his offences had gone on for “many years”.
Uttley was Head of Technology at Beauchamps High School for many years, where he remained until leaving in 2005.
Uttley’s victims may be able to bring civil claims against Uttley directly but they should also consider bringing civil claims for compensation against the school itself, who may be legally responsible for the acts of abuse carried out by Uttley, given the close connection between the acts of abuse and Uttley’s employment.
