John William Renel, 68, was found guilty of rape and indecent assault against a former student at Cundall Manor School near York.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, reported the abuse to police in 2021, more than 20 years after the alleged incidents occurred.

Prosecutor Rupert Doswell told the jury at York Crown Court that Renel, wearing a tweed jacket, pinned the girl down and raped and indecently assaulted her in a locker room at the school.

The victim described an incident in the school kitchen where Renel picked her up and jokingly threatened to "throw her in the bin". He then carried her to a side room where he allegedly raped her.

The victim also recounted a separate incident in a dormitory where Renel picked her up and dropped her on a bed, sexually assaulted her, and forced her hand onto an intimate part of his body.

Renel denied knowing the girl and claimed he always wore a tweed jacket, but he was found guilty on all charges.

Recorder Anthony Hawks sentenced Renel to 18 years in prison, placed him on the sex offenders' register for life, and imposed a sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Constable Alison Morris of North Yorkshire Police stated that Renel is a predatory child abuser who has caused immeasurable trauma to his victim.