James Waters, 82, was given a ‘death sentence’ this week years after he used his position as a favourite teacher to lure boys to a ‘secret sex club’ where he abused them repeatedly
A sick predator used his position as his pupils’ favourite teacher to sexually abuse 14 boys in a perverted “sex club”. Art teacher James Waters targeted young boys at a preparatory school in Surrey and jailed in a “death sentence” of 14 years after being convicted of an array of horrifying offences.
Waters, of Beeford, between Brandesburton and Bridlington, faced sentence for 36 sexual offences, including 25 of indecent assault, nine of indecency with a child and two of another very serious sexual offence [buggery], dating back to the 1980s. He was convicted by a jury, after a trial lasting nearly two-and-a-half weeks, of four of the offences, including the two most serious. He earlier admitted the other offences.
Waters, full name Terence James Waters, was already subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and having to register for life as a sex offender. He will be on extended licence of one year when he is released from prison.
“Classic grooming behaviour” was used by Waters including “skinny dipping” and inviting boys to be paid for being photographed, according to prosecutor Daniel Stephenson. Mr Stephenson said that sexual activity followed.
In carrying out his sinister predatory behaviour, Waters would take pupils to a dark room and take pictures of them naked and carry out sexual acts with them, including using baby oil. The boys would be given rewards by Waters following his sick behaviour and he would also take them to a loft area where they would strip naked.
“Don’t tell anyone what happens,” he told one boy according to Hull Live. We’ll keep it a secret.” He told another: “This is our secret. This is our stuff.”
Waters – he would urge victims not to tell their friends – encouraged the boy to play strip poker and told him: “You are very good at this. You are doing very well.” He told another boy: “You mustn’t tell anyone. It’s because you are special.”
Mr Stephenson said Waters would created a “comfortable atmosphere” in which to photograph the boys, telling them this is “our little thing together”. One boy was given pornographic magazines.
“It’s clear that the offending has had a substantial impact on the complainants in this case,” said Mr Stephenson. “Each of them was particularly vulnerable. They were away from their parents. They were young. This is a clear case of abuse of trust, the defendant being a trusted teacher.”
Waters already had a significant criminal record before he was jailed again this week. His record is as follows:
- April 1988 – Jailed for three-and-a-half years for six offences of indecent assault of boys and two of taking indecent photographs.
- September 1994 – Jailed for six years for indecent assault, gross indecency and taking indecent photographs
- April 2000 – Jailed for two-and-a-half years for two offences of making indecent photographs of children
- January 2009 – Non-custodial sentence for six offences involving indecent images
- March 2011 – Eight offences of indecent assault of boys and five of gross indecency
Mitigating, Michael Edmonds said the latest case was nearly identical with those dealt with in 1988 and there had been a “massive delay” in bringing them to justice. “Those matters could and should have been dealt with at the same time,” said Mr Edmonds. “The defendant has not assaulted any child or anyone else since the 2011 case.”
Mr Edmonds said Waters has shown remorse over his actions in later life and that he was abused as a child and was “involved in what was effectively child prostitution”. Mr Edmonds also said: “He has controlled the urges that he simply has… He has resisted temptation.”
The defence lawyer added that it would be a “death sentence” for Waters if he were jailed now. “There must be for him, even at this age, light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “He is, to say the least, not well. He has already rehabilitated himself. He has been living a very quiet life being monitored by the police. He is regularly and randomly visited by officers. His offending is now in the distant past. He knows what is coming. He is resigned to his fate. Your Honour ought not to condemn him to death in prison.”
“Offending of this gravity must be met by a very significant sentence even if it was many decades ago,” said Judge Tahir Khan KC. “The victims are entitled to justice just as much as you are. At the heart of this case is that each of the boys that you preyed on was vulnerable because of their particular circumstances.
“You were able to abuse so many victims because you were a teacher at a prep school where the pupils were either day pupils or boarders. These boys were away from their parents. Teachers were feared and corporal punishment was practised.”
