Ex-teacher jailed for sex offences against pupils
Frank Skipwith will be a registered sex offender for life
The ex-headmaster of a now closed school in West Sussex has been jailed for a series of sexual offences against boys in Berkshire.
Frank Skipwith, 81, of Eynsham, Oxfordshire, will spend 11 years behind bars after being found guilty at a re-trial, of indecent assault against two boys under 14 at Fernden school near Midhurst in the early 80s.
He was also found guilty of the same offence against a boy under 14 at a school in Reading in the early 90s, where he was headteacher at the time.
Skipwith was first convicted in March 2020, of 17 indecent assaults against ten boys then between eight and 14-years-old at Fernden.
Detective Constable Chris Smith said; "As headmaster, Skipwith was responsible for the welfare of the children at Fernden. He appeared to be a devoted family man, kindly and charming, and lived in a flat next to the dormitories with his wife and three sons who were among the 100 pupils at the school at one time and another.
"However from the evidence we gathered from his victims, it was clear that he abused his position of trust and authority for his own sexual gratification over many years.
"He would regularly enter dormitories at night and assaults boys in their beds, under guise of comforting them. In some cases he had disciplined and even beaten boys first, often for dubious reasons, then adopting a sudden forgiving approach which they naturally welcomed.
"But his victims kept these distressing secrets largely to themselves, though occasionally confiding in family members, until two of them came forward and contacted us quite independently during 2017. Our enquiries then traced the others.
"All the victims supported our investigation throughout and attended Court to give their evidence, which was rigorously tested by cross-examination on behalf of Skipwith.
"We will always take seriously and follow up such reports, no matter how long ago the events are said to have occurred, to seek justice for victims wherever possible."
Skipwith will be a registered sex offender for life.