Former teacher jailed for historic sex assaults on young girl in the 1980s

Peter Roberts, who taught at a school in Bilston, befriended the family of the girl, even going on holiday with them, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

As they met up, he used the opportunities to ‘groom’ her, said Mr Andrew Baker, prosecuting.

Roberts started teaching at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School in 1976.

It was in the 1980s that he became ‘infatuated’ with the child and started the assaults.

Mr Baker said: "This was an extreme abuse of trust by somebody who was not only a teacher but a family friend.”

Roberts, who was living in Bilston, carried out regular assaults until the girl plucked up the courage to tell him to stop, revealed the prosecutor.

This brought the attacks to a halt but he remained friendly with the family until they moved away from the area.

The girl first mentioned to them what had happened to her in 1999 but did not want to pursue the matter at that stage.

She finally gave details to the police many years later when approached by officers investigating allegations made by somebody else.

Roberts, now aged 70 and back living in Liverpool, initially denied her claims but quickly accepted full responsibility.

Mr James Lefroy, defending, disclosed: “He makes no attempt to minimise his involvement."

Roberts, now from Forthlin Road, Liverpool and of previous good character, pleaded guilty to three specimen charges of indecent assault and was jailed for three years by Judge James Burbidge QC who told him: “You have lived for many years with a dark secret.

“Unfortunately the injured party had to live with it as well and it adversely affected her life, her relationships and her overall being.”