A ‘wicked’ pervert headmaster who sexually assaulted 44 pupils as young as seven during a 15-year reign of abuse was today jailed for 10 years.
Gordon Fleming, 66, took terrified girls aged between seven and 11 into a storeroom where he fondled them.
He waved and blew a kiss to his wife as he was led down to the cells after admitting sexually assaulting 35 young girls at Swansea Crown Court this afternoon.
Fleming, who worked at primary schools in Mid and North Wales, had already served a four-year sentence after he admitted sexually assaulting nine girls in 1992 – bringing the total number of victims to 44.
Gordon Fleming (pictured) was today jailed for 10 years after abusing at least 44 young girls in Wales
The court heard the married teacher his assaults secret for more than 30 years and that there was a ‘rush’ not to be the last girl to leave his class at one village primary school.
The headteacher would grab the girl at the end of the queue and ‘trap’ her in his classroom for his own sexual pleasure.
Fleming, from Oswestry, Shropshire, was today described by a judge as a wicked man and had affected the lives of so many young girls.
He waved and blew a kiss to his wife as he was led down to the cells after being locked up for 10 years today.
The court heard he admitted indecently assaulting nine girl pupils at another school and was jailed for four years at Chester Crown Court in 25 years ago.
Judge Geraint Walters said: ‘One of our victims said you were a scary, angry and predatory man who had left your mark on her forever.
‘These are all words which describe the wickedness of what you did.
‘The truly remarkable feature of this case is its scale – the number of victims and the effect you have had on their lives.
‘From 1977 to 1991, a period of 15 years, you abused no less than 44 children.
‘They were young, naive, innocent and respectful of your position of authority.
‘You were imposing, with a reputation of being stern with a temper which intimidated pupils.
‘You took advantage of those girls in such a way to deprive them of their childhood innocence.
‘You damaged them and they still have to endure that many years on.
‘It is no exaggeration to say that your conduct forever blighted their lives.’
The judge said Fleming had the opportunity to ‘wipe the slate clean’ when he was caught and sentenced in 1992.
He told him: ‘The seriousness of your offending has to be assessed in regard to the number of victims, their young age, the invasive nature of your behaviour, your repeated abuse, the breach trust and the profound long-term effect of your conduct on so many.’
Dyfed Thomas, defending, said Fleming’s last known offence was in 1988 and he had been of good character since.
Mr Thomas said: ‘His wife supports him – she knows over the last 30 years a different side to his character.
‘He never taught after his offending first came to light in 1992.’
Nicola Powell, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said after the sentencing: ‘Gordon Fleming hid behind his reputation as a well-respected teacher for decades, exploiting his position of trust within the education system.
Fleming waved and blew a kiss to his wife as he was led down to the cells after being locked up for 10 years at Swansea Crown Court (pictured)
‘He used his authority fulfill his own sexual gratification.
‘Thanks to the bravery of his victims has been shown to be a perpetrator of repeated sexual abuse and has finally been brought to justice.’
He was sentenced today after after admitting 35 indecent assaults on girl pupils, who are now in their forties.
Prosecutor Robin Rouch said: ‘Fleming would gyrate his body against pupils and due to the height difference their faces would be level with his crotch.
‘He would be laughing and providing a running commentary of what he was doing.
‘His face would become red and his breathing loud as he became aroused.’
The court heard he gave the children sex education lessons using pupils as young as seven to demonstrate sex positions.
Mr Rouch said: ‘He would get the children to make a fist and then tell them to make sex noises as they thrust their fingers into it.
‘He would make grunting noises as he showed them positions he described as missionary and doggy style.’
Fleming also taught girls the guitar and gymnastics and touched the girls intimately during lessons.
One of his victims, now 44, told how Fleming ruined her life and left her with an eating disorder and drug problem.
The mother-of-four is now a university lecturer and counsels children at risk of sexual abuse her spare time.
She said: ‘I was a small child – he was in a position of power. He would shut the classroom door and I would be trapped.
‘I watched as he did the same thing to my younger sister and was helpless to protect her.
‘Gordon Fleming was very angry and intimidating – purple veins would pop out of his forehead.
‘I once saw him hit a table so hard it broke in two down the middle.’
Dozens of former pupils gave victim impact statements describing ‘daily’ attacks by Fleming who was in his twenties at the time.
Another terrified pupil described to a classmate what had happened to her and was told: ‘That’s what Mr Fleming does.’