Simon Harris convicted: Former public school teacher convicted of sexually abusing Kenyan street children

Charity boss lured boys with promise of food, money and free schooling

School teacher Simon Harris (PA)

A 55-year-old former public school teacher has been convicted of sexually abusing young Kenyan street children.

Charity boss Simon Harris denied luring vulnerable boys using food, money and the promise of schooling to his luxury home in the East African country where prosecutors say all the abuse took place.

Harris, of Pudleston near Leominster in Herefordshire, has been on trial at Birmingham Crown Court, which has seen testimony from witnesses over a 6,500-mile video link.

The jury, which has been deliberating on a total of 23 charges against the former private school Latin teacher, has still to consider verdicts on some of the counts.

The jury unanimously found Harris guilty of five sex assaults, including against a victim as young as six, and on two counts of indecent assault.

He was also found to be guilty of four counts of possessing indecent images of children.

However, jurors acquited Harris of seven charges including rape, attempted rape and sexual assault.

Judge Philip Parker QC directed the jury that he would accept majority verdicts on the remaining five offences on the indictment, which include an allegation of rape against a child under 13.

PA