July 2006 Teacher jailed for abusing young girls A science teacher from Potters Bar has been jailed for six years for sexually assaulting five young girls he was babysitting. The detective who investigated the case said it was possible he may have abused other children who have not yet come forward. American-born Theodore Hughes, 54, of Tiverton Road, Potters Bar, was found guilty of six charges of indecent assault and one count of rape at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court, in Westminster, on Thursday last week. The court heard how Hughes molested the girls while babysitting them in September last year. None of the children, aged between six and 11, were pupils at The American School in St John’s Wood, where Hughes worked. He was sacked after being charged with the offences earlier this year. Sentencing him, Judge Henry Blacksell QC said: “I accept this is a sad day for you. You in my judgement attempted to deceive not only others but yourself about your motives and you put forward an explanation of some misplaced sense of nurture. “There is precious little, if any, mitigation. You have to be punished for what you did, and certainly you shall be.” Hughes, who wept as he was led away, will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Detective Sergeant Mary Coller, of the central child abuse investigation team, said: “Common sense dictates that there may have been others and that he may have done it before. His whole life seems to do with children. It is possible other children may come forward.” The American School caters for 1,250 international students, from pre-school age through to 18, with 70 per cent holding US passports. Associate head of the school, Margaret Grandy, said: “The safety and welfare of our students is our top priority. It has guided us and will continue to guide us in our decisions during this difficult time. We do not tolerate behaviour by any faculty or staff member that could jeopardise the children in our care.”