Former School Protection Officer Jailed for Sexually Abusing Pupils

Alexander Charles Ralls, 47, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for over 40 non-recent sexual offences against pupils at Queen Ethelburga's, a public school in York. Ralls, of Hazel Mead in Bedfordshire, was found guilty at Bradford Crown Court following a six-week trial.

The court heard that Ralls abused his position of trust as a school child protection officer to exploit his victims, both in the UK and on school trips abroad, over a period of four years. He was suspended from teaching and subsequently dismissed in 2015 after a former student made a disclosure.

North Yorkshire Police stated that Ralls, posing as someone with medical knowledge, would convince his victims to remove their clothes for examinations and then molest them. He was convicted of 31 charges of sexual assault, 10 charges of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and two charges of assault by penetration.

Investigating officer Det Con Suzanne Hall described Ralls' actions as "coercive and influential," highlighting the "staggering extent of his offending." She criticized his "utter arrogance and contempt for his victims" by repeatedly using the excuse of providing medical care to carry out the abuse.

Queen Ethelburga's issued a statement expressing "heartfelt sorrow and regret" to the victims and detailing the implementation of "significant improvements in safeguarding practices" since the incidents.