Former caretaker sexually assaulted two school boys.

Former Caretaker Avoids Jail After Pleading Guilty to Sexually Assaulting School Boys

Arthur Miller, a 65-year-old former caretaker and IT teacher at Stowford College in Brighton Road, has been spared jail after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting two school boys and possessing child pornography.

The court heard that Miller, who worked at Stowford College since 1998, assaulted a boy in a shed used as a changing room for games on January 4, 2007. The victim later confided in a friend, who revealed that he had also been subjected to similar abuse by Miller the previous year.

A father of another boy testified that Miller had been grooming his son by pursuing him and showering him with gifts.

After his arrest, Miller, from Priory Crescent in Sutton, attempted suicide by jumping in front of a Tube train but survived after landing in a trough between the rails. Police seized his computer and discovered two images of naked teenage boys and evidence of his access to pornographic websites.

In mitigation, Sonya Saul, Miller's defense attorney, stated that he was deeply ashamed and hoped the incidents would not have a lasting impact on the victims. She also highlighted the support he received from his family and friends.

Judge Timothy Stow QC, while acknowledging Miller's genuine remorse and suicide attempt, described his actions as appalling and a breach of trust. Miller was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, prohibited from working with children indefinitely, placed under a two-year supervision order, and required to register as a sex offender.

The sentence has been met with outrage by some parents, including one mother of a former Stowford pupil who wished to remain anonymous. "How can society let us down like this?" she questioned.