NEIL FRANCIS, NORTH YORKSHIRE TEACHER, SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN MILTON KEYNES
A teacher previously cleared of sexual misconduct with pupils at a North Yorkshire primary school over a decade ago has now been sentenced to prison for multiple child sex offences in Milton Keynes.Neil Francis, 46, formerly residing on Conyers Road in East Cowton, North Yorkshire, was sentenced to nine years in prison at Amersham Crown Court on Tuesday, February 8.
The court heard that Francis was guilty of 19 counts of sexual assault and eight counts of indecent assault, involving 11 female students during his tenure as a teacher at a school in Milton Keynes in the 2000s.
These allegations first came to police attention in December 2017, leading to his charge on February 26 the following year.
In June 2009, Francis was acquitted at Teesside Crown Court of charges related to touching three girls under 13 at a North Yorkshire primary school.
At that time, he was living in Ingleby Barwick, Stockton, and had been suspended from his teaching role after the allegations emerged.
Despite this, he was not arrested immediately, and the specifics of the accusations were only disclosed to him a year later.
During the June 2009 trial, a jury deliberated for less than 45 minutes before finding him not guilty on eight counts of sexual assault.
Judge Peter Armstrong expressed concern over the delays in bringing the case to court, questioning why it took two years from police interviews with child witnesses to the case going to trial.
Commenting on the recent proceedings, Detective Constable Michele Weston of the Milton Keynes Child Abuse Investigation Unit commended the victims and the police effort involved.
She said, "This investigation has taken four years to complete and involved the tenacity of several police officers and staff.
This was a case where a teacher, who was in a position of trust, sexually abused 11 of his female pupils.
I have nothing but admiration for each and every one of those victims who took the time to come to court and tell the awful tale of what happened to them - they should be extremely proud of themselves.
I hope now that the victims can start to rebuild their lives with an assurance that they have played their part in protecting other vulnerable females from this defendant." The jury also found Francis not guilty of one count of sexual assault and discharged two other counts, which will remain on file.
