Former teacher jailed for abusing children in Kenya

A former public school teacher described as a prolific and calculating sexual predator has been jailed for 17 years and four months after abusing vulnerable young Kenyan street children.

• Read more: Keith Wilkinson on The double life of Simon Harris

Charity boss Simon Harris lured boys using food, money and the promise of schooling to his luxury home in the East African country where the abuse took place between 2002 and May 2013.

Harris, 55, of Pudleston near Leominster in Herefordshire, was convicted after trial last year of three indecent assaults and five sexual assaults, with one victim thought to be as young as nine.

He was also found guilty of four charges of possessing indecent images of children.

A judge who today sentenced a former teacher from Herefordshire to 17 years and four months in jail for the abuse of Kenyan street children, said he had abused "amongst the most vulnerable in the world."

Before his trial last year, Simon Harris admitted six counts of indecently assaulting three boys at a college in Devon, where he had been a housemaster in the 1980s.

Judge Parker said Harris, who later moved to Kenya, had continued his sexual offending against boys, and this time against street children whom he said "were amongst the most vulnerable in the world".

"You assumed a hallowed position among the locals," said the judge.

"You were revered as someone who could provide the gift of education.

"You were answerable to no-one - and once again you had access to boys."

The judge added that Harris's charity work in education meant "no-one batted an eyelid" when he washed boys, and allowed youngsters to sleep in his bedroom at the remote home he owned on the outskirts of the town of Gilgil.

"You walked on water. But none of them knew you had a sexual motive."

Former public school teacher and charity boss Simon Harris has been jailed at Birmingham Crown Court for 17 years and four months after abusing vulnerable Kenyan street children.

Harris lured boys using food, money and the promise of schooling to his luxury home in the East African country where the abuse took place between 2002 and May 2013.

Harris, of Pudleston near Leominster in Herefordshire, was convicted of three indecent assaults and five sexual assaults, with one victim thought to be as young as nine.

The 55 year old was also found guilty of four charges of possessing indecent images of children.