Sex attack deputy head is jailed

A deputy head teacher who carried out a series of sex attacks on young girls has been jailed for five years.

In September, David Morgan, 42, a teacher at a school in the Wakefield area, admitted 19 counts of indecent assault on five girls.

On Monday, Morgan was jailed at Leeds Crown Court for what was described as a "huge breach of trust".

The court was told the incidents took place between October 2003 and April this year.

Changing room

Morgan, of Sprotbrough, near Doncaster, was arrested following an investigation by West Yorkshire Police's child protection unit.

Patricia Doherty, prosecuting, said one girl was indecently assaulted eight times - on one occasion in a school changing room.

Another was assaulted six times. In all, five girls told their parents what had happened and they contacted the school and other authorities.

Morgan was suspended in April and later resigned.

Abused children

Sentencing him, Judge Alastair McCallum said: "You abused children in your trust. It was a huge breach of trust.

"I wish I wasn't sitting here today having to address someone like you in this way, but the fact you pleaded guilty meant these children didn't have to come here to give evidence."

Morgan has been placed on the sex offenders' register and disqualified from working with children for the rest of his life.

After the case, Det Con Debra Stedmans, from the child and public protection unit, said: "The success of the investigation could not have been achieved without help of the victims who bravely came forward.

"As a teacher, Morgan held a position of trust and responsibility and should have been someone to whom the community could look to and trust. Sadly, this was not the case.

"I hope the victims and their families can take some comfort from today's sentence and the fact the public will be protected from Morgan for the immediate future."