Retired primary school headteacher, 66, admits sexually abusing more than 20 pupils aged under 13 in the 1970s and 80s

  • Gordon Fleming, 66, committed the sexual assaults over a five-year period 
  • He is facing a 'substantial' prison sentence for groping and touching the girls 
  • The women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will each give a victim impact statement when Fleming, from Shropshire, is sentenced in May 

By Anthony Joseph for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

A retired primary school headteacher admitted sexually abusing 24 pupils aged under 13 in the 1970s and 80s.

Gordon Fleming, 66, committed the sexual assaults over a five-year period while teaching at primary schools in North Wales.

At a hearing at Swansea Crown Court today, he was told that he is facing a 'substantial' prison sentence for groping and touching the girls.  

He was originally faced 61 charges but he admitted one charge in relation to each of his victims who are now aged in their late forties.

At a hearing at Swansea Crown Court today, he was told that he is facing a 'substantial' prison sentence for groping and touching the girls

At a hearing at Swansea Crown Court today, he was told that he is facing a 'substantial' prison sentence for groping and touching the girls

The name of each of each abused pupil was read out in court, where Fleming admitted 24 charges of indecent assault.

Judge Geraint Walters told him: 'You have admitted systematically sexually abusing no less than 24 young girls who were in your trust at the time.

This represents a serious breach of trust for a junior school teacher abusing so many young girls.

'There will be a significant prison sentence, there is no avoiding that.'

Judge Walters ordered Fleming to register as a sex offender immediately and refused him bail because of the seriousness of his crimes.

Fleming, dressed in grey trousers, a jumper and open-necked shirt blew a kiss to his wife Helen who was sitting in the public gallery before he was led to the cells.

The court heard Fleming was jailed for three years at Chester Crown Court in 1992 for nine charges of a similar nature while he was headmaster at a village school near Welshpool, North Wales.

The charges Fleming admitted to yesterday relate to an earlier time when he was teaching at another primary school in North Wales.

It follows an inquiry by Dyfed Powys Police after several of his pupils reported what happened to them while they were in his classroom.

Officers made a wider appeal to girls he taught at the school between 1976 and 1981 and 24 came forward.

The women, who can't be named for legal reasons, will each give a victim impact statement when Fleming, from Shropshire, is sentenced in May.

His wife refused to comment as left the court alone. 

 

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