FORMER HAMPSHIRE TEACHER IAN ATKINSON SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN EVERSLEY
A former teacher at St Neots Preparatory School in Eversley, Hampshire, Ian Atkinson, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for child sex offences.Atkinson, 59, was convicted after a six-day trial at Bradford Crown Court on January 10.
The court found him guilty of nine offences, which include six charges of indecent assault on a boy, one charge of inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency, and two charges related to making (downloading) indecent images of children.
Four of these offences occurred in Hampshire.
The contact offences took place during the 1990s and 2000s, while the indecent images were discovered in 2015 when police seized his laptop following his arrest.
Atkinson, who resides in Brompton on Regis, Somerset, has been placed on the sex offenders register for life and has been issued a sexual harm prevention order.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Fiona Ayre of North Yorkshire Police stated, “Appallingly, Atkinson used his position of trust to abuse young boys for his own sexual gratification, and the sentence reflects the serious and protracted nature of his offending.
I praise the victims for having the courage to relive their ordeals in court, and I hope the outcome can help them move forward.
“I would reassure any victims of such offences that they should not hesitate to come forward to the police.
It doesn’t matter when the abuse happened—whether it was decades ago or ongoing now.
“Even if it seems impossible to bring an offender to justice, support and advice are available.
Your information could help protect others and allow the police to form a broader understanding of the offending pattern.
“We understand that reporting such experiences takes courage and can be distressing.
We have specially trained officers to guide victims through the process and can signpost to other helpful agencies.
“Child sexual abuse is a top priority for law enforcement, and all reports are thoroughly investigated.
If you have been abused, please do not suffer in silence—report it.” An NSPCC spokesperson commented, “This was a betrayal of trust at its worst.
Atkinson exploited his position to abuse vulnerable young boys for his own twisted gratification.
The children affected have had their childhoods damaged, and such abuse can have lifelong effects.
We hope all victims receive the support they need to recover from these traumatic experiences in safe environments.”
