A HEADTEACHER has moved to reassure parents after a former teacher was jailed for sexual assaults on children.

Mat Harper, headteacher of Beauchamps High School in Wickford, said it co-operated fully with all investigations into the crimes of Gabriel Uttley.

The 62-year-old former teacher was jailed on Friday for four years.

Mr Harper said: “I can confirm that a former member of our teaching staff, Mr Gabriel Uttley - who left the school’s employment in 2005 - has been in court this week to face allegations under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 that date back to the time when Mr Uttley was an employee of Beauchamps High School.

“On November 13, 2020 he was found guilty of these charges.

“I wish to assure you that the school has been following the appropriate procedures and has been co-operating fully with Essex Police and the local authority throughout the investigation.

“I would like to reassure all of our school community that the safety and wellbeing of our students is of paramount importance to us.

“We take our safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously.”

Uttley was said to have “betrayed the trust” of the school over a six-year period.