July 2023 Former teacher jailed for sexual abuse in Sussex A former teacher who sexually abused boys at boarding schools in Sussex and Wiltshire has been jailed. Piers Le Cheminant, 77, carried out the abuse on the young boys between 1966 and 1985. This included abuse of boys at the Oakwood Preparatory School in Chichester, and at the Salisbury Cathedral School in Salisbury. He abused his position of trust as a teacher by carrying out the abuse, isolating vulnerable young boys. At times, he was so confident of his impunity that he would abuse boys in front of other class members. The abuse was first reported in September 2017 and specialist detectives from the Sussex Police Complex Abuse Unit launched the investigation in close cooperation with Wiltshire Police. Further allegations were made, and Le Cheminant, of Poundsgate, Newton Abbot, Devon, was first convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court on February 23 last year of indecently assaulting six boys at Oakwood Preparatory School between 1966 and 1980. He was also convicted of indecently assaulting two boys at Salisbury Cathedral School between 1981 and 1985. He was found not guilty of indecently assaulting one of the boys at Oakwood School, and the jury did not agree verdicts on a count of alleged indecent assault on another boy at Oakwood School, and on two counts of alleged indecent assaults on two other boys at Salisbury Cathedral School. Le Cheminant has now been convicted of the further charges against a boy at Salisbury between 1982 and 1984 and against a boy at Oakwood after the CPS sought a retrial. At Winchester Crown Court on July 10 he was jailed for a total of nine years, and must serve a minimum of six years before he can be considered for release. He will be the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the rest of his life and is also a registered sex offender for life.