November 2003

Sex offences teacher jailed

A HIGH school teacher has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after indecently assaulting two vulnerable pupils who had turned to him for help.

David Reaper has been banned from working with young children and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Fifty-six-year-old Reaper, who had worked at a school in Halton since 1978, admitted four charges of indecent assault after befriending two boys with family problems.

Simon Mills, prosecuting, told Chester Crown Court yesterday that one victim was just 13 and had been left ‘devastated’ following the death of his grandfather.

Ex-Vale Royal Borough and Kingsley parish councillor Reaper had visited his home to talk to his mother about the boy’s difficulties.

On May 16 this year, Reaper telephoned her to ask permission to take her son out for a meal and encourage him to talk.

He drove the boy to Helsby Hill and walked with him towards the pond where he indecently assaulted him.

Mr Mills said: ‘The boy told him to stop and Reaper did. The victim was in some distress but he was powerless and in Reaper’s care and control.

‘They went to the White Lion pub in Alvanley and the boy tried to pretend that everything was all right.’

The youngster pretended to go to the toilet but instead escaped from the pub and ran to a nearby bed and breakfast run by Pam Toler, who contacted his mother.