A RETIRED prep school teacher has been jailed for historic sex offences.

Jeremy Malim taught at the Brambletye Preparatory School near East Grinstead from 1975 to 2002 when he was suspended following accusations of indecent sexual assault.

The 73-year-old pervert used his position as a French teacher to “groom” boys aged between nine and 13 at the school.

He was found guilty of six charges of indecent assault after a trial at Hove Crown Court and was sentenced to six years in prison by Judge Paul Tain.

Ryan Richter, prosecuting,

said Malim used his popularity

as a teacher to abuse boys in his care.

“The victims described how the defendant had singled them out as ‘favourites’, paying them more attention than their classmates with his tactile behaviour turning to abuse,” he said.

He was previously on trial at Oxford Crown Court in 2003 when two former pupils made allegations but the case was dropped by a judge who was concerned about the length of time that had passed since the incidents.

But after a change in the law, further accusations from three former pupils were brought to Sussex Police in 2014.

The first victim was a boy who was abused between 1978 and 1979, the second was abused between 1977 and 1979, and the third from 1996 to 1999.

One victim said Malim had become like a “father figure” but said the pervert had the choice in his actions that his victims did not have.

He said: “As a 13-year-old child I did not have the opportunity and freedom to know what is right and wrong or to know I was being exploited for his own sexual gratification.

“Malim was in a position of trust and pastoral care for safeguarding children like me.

“He was supposed to protect our innocence and ease the concerns and worries that a child may have when away from home.”

Detective Constable Phil Cracknell led the investigation and said Malim would touch the boys inside their clothing, almost in full view of other pupils and would then make light of it.

He said: “Our investigation found that Malim used his position of authority and trust to effectively groom the boys he approached into a situation in which they felt unable to resist or report his advances.

“The young and vulnerable victims somehow accepted it at the time but it is quite clear that their distressing experiences stayed with them.”

Judge Tain said the victims were vulnerable and said it was an “almost classic” case of abuse of trust involving grooming.

He passed a six-year sentence for six offences for indecent assault, which included a five-year term for crimes against one boy, a one year term for another boy, and a total of six years from four charges against a third boy.

Malim, now of Morteaux-Coliboeuf in Normandy, was found not guilty of two charges.

Det Con Cracknell added: “The sentencing sends a message that we always take seriously and investigate such reports, no matter how long ago the events are said to have happened.”