Retired schoolteacher who perpetrated numerous indecent assaults against children under his care.

Former Trowbridge School Teacher Sentenced to Four Years for Child Sex Offenses

Robert Kalton, 88, of Ashby Road, Burton upon Trent, was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on February 15th for non-recent child sex offenses. The former teacher and church choirmaster of St Augustine's Roman Catholic School pleaded guilty to four counts of gross indecency with a boy under the age of 14 and two counts of gross indecency with a man over the age of 16 at a previous hearing in November 2022.

Kalton was sentenced to four years for one count of indecent assault on a boy under 14. He received additional sentences of 20 weeks, two years, and two years for three further counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14. For two counts of indecent assault on a man aged 16 or over, he received one year sentences for each. All six sentences will run concurrently.

Kalton is also on the sex offenders register for life. The court heard that he was already serving a four-year prison sentence for similar offending when the investigation commenced. In total, Kalton has been convicted of 32 sexual offenses against at least six young boys. His offending spanned a period of two decades and occurred in various locations across the UK.

The victim in this case came forward in December 2019. He reported that Kalton, who was a Maths teacher at a Catholic secondary school in Trowbridge, had abused him multiple times over a 5-year period when he was aged between 11 and 16 years old. These offenses dated back to the 1970s.

In a statement released to the court, the victim said: "Robert Kalton was a teacher. He was also a religious man. As such he had power and respect. He occupied a position of trust, and he abused that trust in the worst way possible. School is a place where you spend a large proportion of your childhood. It is a place where you should feel safe. Instead, I was made to dread and fear going to school."

Detective Sergeant Rachel Winter of Wiltshire Police said: "Robert Kalton is a sexual predator who used his position of authority as a teacher and member of the Catholic church to systematically abuse young boys. He stole his victims childhoods and changed their lives forever. They have lived with what happened to them for many years, and undoubtedly the crimes committed have affected them ever since."

"The victim in this case has shown immense courage throughout the investigation and legal proceedings. It is their perseverance which has resulted in the conviction. This case also highlights that no matter the length of time that has passed, the public should feel reassured that we will thoroughly investigate non-recent offences and support and work with victims throughout."