Primary teacher admits 35 charges of indecency

A former primary school teacher pleaded guilty yesterday to charges of indecency involving 19 of his pupils in a string of sexual assaults that went undetected for 11 years.

John Walker, 58, described by police as an "immense danger" to children, selected boys and girls as young as nine, luring them with promises of extra-curricular activities, Oxford Crown Court was told. In 1989, an anonymous letter alleging sexual abuse was ignored by education authorities and Walker found a new job at a nearby primary school. He left in November 2000 at the start of a police investigation.

The jury was told that Walker, a single man who lived with his mother in Headington, Oxford, preyed on his pupils during the school's annual summer camp. Sandy Stansfield, for the prosecution, said Walker would lead children on midnight walks through graveyards, single out his victim, then sexually abuse them.

Others he molested after chess lessons in his study at his home, or in the changing rooms at the end of swimming lessons. He told one victim: "This is not hurting anyone. It's only society that thinks it's wrong."

Ms Stansfield said: "Walker had his favourites who were either in, or out. One victim recalls Mr Walker being superficially friendly and having favourite pupils. Others he used to bully and humiliate."

Some of his victims were in court to hear Walker admit 35 counts of indecency between 1976 and 1989 at an Oxfordshire primary school, which cannot be named for legal reasons.

Testaments from some of his victims read to the court said they had suffered prolonged psychological damage from his abuse. One victim said he had been assaulted at least 30 times by his teacher, who had told him to say nothing.

Walker had been reported to the education authority by the anonymous letter in 1989, detailing claims of sexual abuse.

In the same year, Walker left the school after 15 years' service without explanation, and took a job in the independent sector. A spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council said the education authority was unaware of any investigation into Walker's conduct after the letter.

John Mitchell, assistant to the chief education officer at the county council, said the authorities were "unfamiliar" with the case, and teacher records were destroyed after three years and one term.

Alison Jones, the headteacher of the Rye St Antony School in Oxford, where Walker worked from September 1989 to November 2000, said she was "extremely shocked and saddened" by the revelations. She said the school had found nothing untoward in the checks on him with the Department for Education and added: "We are confident none of our pupils have been assaulted by him."

She said the "extremely competent and well-respected" junior maths and science teacher resigned after 11 years in November 2000 when police started their investigation.

Walker, who has been remanded in custody until a hearing in April at which he will be sentenced, denied a further 20 charges of indecent assault and indecency with a child. The trial judge ordered these to lie on file.

Sentencing was adjourned until 5 April at Reading Crown Court.