DAVE AKERS FROM WEYMOUTH SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AT BOURNEMOUTH CROWN COURT

In a significant case that has shocked the local community, David Akers, a 61-year-old former deputy headteacher from Weymouth, was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault. The crimes, which took place during the 1990s, involved a pupil at the school where Akers was employed, specifically at Budmouth School.

His conviction followed a detailed nine-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court, where the jury found him guilty of three counts of indecent assault. However, Akers was acquitted of three additional charges of similar nature, which means the court did not find sufficient evidence to convict him on those counts.

As part of his sentencing, the court also ordered that David Akers be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life, a measure that underscores the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.

The court proceedings revealed that Akers, during the time of the offenses, held the position of deputy headteacher at Budmouth School. It was during this period that he befriended the victim, who was under the age of 16, and subsequently committed the assaults. The details of the case emerged publicly when the victim confided in her partner and friends in 2015, leading to the investigation and eventual trial.

The case has garnered considerable attention in Weymouth and the surrounding areas, highlighting issues of safeguarding and the importance of vigilance in educational environments. The community now grapples with the implications of this case, which underscores the need for continued efforts to protect vulnerable individuals from abuse.