Former assistant headteacher has been jailed for child sex offences.

Former Assistant Headteacher Jailed for Child Sex Offences in Cornwall

Terence Burke, 75, who now lives in Swindon, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for sexually abusing two teenagers in the early 2000s while he was the safeguarding lead at Falmouth School.

The abuse occurred while Burke held a position of trust as the safeguarding lead, a significant breach of trust. He was sentenced at Truro Crown Court and placed on the sex offender's register.

The two victims, identified only as Child A and Child B, have been severely impacted by Burke's actions. Ten years of his sentence relate to offences against Child B, and the other eight for offences against Child A.

In one of the victim's impact statements, she stated, "No one should ever have to go through what he did to me."

The judge, in his summing up, stated, "It is clear you abused your position... given your role as the safeguarding lead at the school, it is hard to think of a more serious breach of trust."

Detective Constable Isabelle Woodall, the investigating officer from Devon and Cornwall Police, expressed her satisfaction with the sentence and hoped it would bring justice to the victims. She praised the bravery of the victims for coming forward and assisting with the investigation.

An NSPCC spokesperson commented on the case, stating, "Burke exploited his position of trust as an assistant head teacher to sexually abuse pupils who had been placed in his care. These crimes can have a devastating and long-term impact on the victims, and the women in this case have shown immense bravery in coming forward and reporting what happened."

The spokesperson further emphasized the importance of providing support to victims of sexual abuse and encouraged anyone who has experienced such abuse to reach out for help.