Teacher who sexually abused ten boys is jailed for nine years

A church deacon who sexually abused ten schoolboys under the "cloak of discipline" has been jailed for nine years.

The Rev Alan Morris, 64, committed the offences while handing out punishments as a teacher at an all-boys Catholic grammar school in Manchester from 1973 to 1990.

Morris was said to have a "fearsome reputation" as a strict disciplinarian at St Ambrose College in Hale Barns, which was then run by the Christian Brothers Holy Order.

He used his position of power to prey on students who were vulnerable and he knew would not report him to parents or the authorities, Manchester Minshull Street Court heard.

Morris was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault at his home in Rivington Road, Hale, in November 2012 following a complaint to the police.

Publicity about the investigation led to many more ex-pupils coming forward and saying they were sexually abused in the guise of corporal punishment.

Morris denied all the charges and continues to maintain his innocence.

It emerged in court that Morris was arrested by Greater Manchester Police in 2001 when one of his victims first made a historic allegation against him.

Morris would grab his arms from behind in class and then rock backwards and forwards in making contact with his groin area, he said.

When interviewed, Morris denied any wrongdoing, described himself as a "benevolent autocrat" and said his accuser was "a very good actor".

He told police he was homosexual but was only attracted to older men and could not pursue them in any event because of his vow of celibacy.

Morris was released without charge because of insufficient evidence and returned to his duties as deacon at the Church of the Holy Angels in Hale Barns, following his ordination in 1992.

He had already retired from teaching at St Ambrose in November 1995 when he suffered a nervous breakdown, the court was told.

Morris was convicted earlier this summer of 19 offences of indecent assault and inciting a child to perform an act of gross indecency.

At a second trial this month he was cleared of similar alleged historic offences at St Ambrose relating to two boys, while the jury could not reach verdicts on eight others.

The Crown decided today not to proceed with a retrial and reporting restrictions were lifted.