Ex-head teacher jailed over abuse

A sport historian and ex-head teacher has been jailed for five and a half years for sexually abusing two girls.

Dean Philip Hayes, 59, of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, was the former head at Brindle St James CofE Primary School in Brindle, Chorley, Lancashire.

He had completed a "spectacular fall from grace" by committing the offences, Preston Crown Court was told.

Hayes, who taught in various Bolton schools, admitted a number of indecency charges and possessing indecent images.

The court heard that he had written more than 100 sporting history books, including works on Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley FC, Blackpool FC and Lancashire County Cricket Club.

These offences have had a serious and lasting effect on these two women Judge Robert Brown, Preston Crown Court

Hayes started abusing the girls in the 1990s when they were aged six and eight.

When he was arrested in September 2008, police found a number of indecent images of children on his home computer.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said Hayes initially denied any wrongdoing.

He told police one of his complainants had fabricated the events and was "neurotic", while the other had misconstrued his "friendly nature".

'Broken man'

In victim impact statements, one of the women said she had suffered lengthy bouts of depression and had developed both eating and skin disorders.

The other victim remarked her "dreams had been shattered" and she had not fulfilled her full potential in life because of the defendant.

Michael Maher, defending, said: "This represents a spectacular fall from grace in the eyes of his family, friends and colleagues.

"The admissions will effectively ostracise him from them.

"He has also lost the opportunity to earn further income by writing books. He is a broken man."

Sentencing Hayes, Judge Robert Brown said: "These offences have had a serious and lasting effect on these two women."

The defendant, who had no previous convictions, was disqualified from working with children and told to sign the sex offenders register.