A former teacher has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for historic sexual abuse against a pupil.

Michael Porteous, 78, abused a 12-year-old pupil while working at King’s House Preparatory School, Richmond, in the 1970s.

He was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault of a boy under 14 years old on September 22 and was jailed at Kingston Crown Court on Monday, October 6.

The victim told police about the abuse in December 2012, stating the art and music teacher sexually assaulted him while sitting next to him on a coach that travelled to a sports ground.

The abuse happened on numerous occasions and lasted from six to eight weeks.

The victim had not spoken out at the time because he said his parents worked hard to pay for his education and did not want them to feel he had let them down.

Although he had told previous partners and his wife, the victim had never discussed the intimate details of the abuse until he contacted the police.

The Metropolitan Police Service’s sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command tracked Porteous to Thailand, where he was living, and he was arrested when he returned to visit family members in the UK in September 2013. He was then charged with sexual assaults on a child.

Detective Constable Nikki Honey said: "Porteous preyed on a vulnerable young boy, who did not really understand what was happening to him at the time.

"He used his position to abuse a child, and thought he had got away with it. His victim only came forward as he became a father himself to a much longed for child a few months before he made the allegation.

"He stated that when he looked into his son's eyes and saw such innocence, coupled with the media attention of the Jimmy Savile inquiry, it gave him the strength to make the allegation.

"He had never told anyone before in such detail. This took a lot of courage, especially for something he had wanted to forget about.

"He was able to recall the incidents in so much detail, even after nearly 40 years. He had lived with his memories for such a long time, and is now so relieved, that he has described it as being set free."

Along with a 30-month jail term, Porteous was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.