Former teacher jailed for sexually abusing boy she tutored

A former teacher has been jailed for seven years after being convicted of sexually abusing a child she privately tutored more than 30 years ago.

Deborah Franklin, 65, from Radlett in Hertfordshire, was found guilty in July of eight counts of gross indecency relating to a boy who was aged between nine and 12 at the time.

Franklin worked as a teacher at a preparatory school in Hertfordshire and also provided private tutoring to the boy. At her sentencing at St Albans Crown Court, the judge described her offending as a “profound abuse of trust”.

The court heard that Franklin had taken advantage of the trust associated with her role as a tutor to abuse the boy over a period of several years. Franklin denied the allegations during her trial and continues to maintain her innocence following her conviction.

Abuse by those in positions of trust

Teachers and tutors are trusted with the education and wellbeing of children. When someone uses that position to abuse a child, it represents a serious betrayal of that trust.

The survivor in this case contacted the police in 2024, many years after the abuse took place. His decision to come forward is an important reminder that there is no time limit on reporting sexual abuse. Survivors can, and do, speak about their experiences many years or even decades later.

If you are reading this as someone who has experienced sexual abuse, whether recently or many years ago, support is available. Speaking to someone does not mean you have to make a report. If you would like to talk through what happened or understand what options may be available to you, our abuse team is here to listen in complete confidence.