A FORMER teacher, who taught at two Watford schools, was jailed for ten years on Friday, March 23, for sexually abusing young pupils over a nine-year period.

Languages teacher Peter Ward first befriended the boys and their families and provided extra tuition in their home.

But this was just part of a grooming process to ensnare vulnerable and innocent children into a web of sexual perversion.

He was jailed for a catalogue of offences involving in five young boys, but specially trained detectives from the Child Protection Unit in South Oxhey, who uncovered his sordid past, believe their may be many more.

They are urging other victims to come forward.

Ward, 56, stood head bowed in the dock at Luton Crown Court as Judge Ronald Moss told him: "On any view what happened over the years from the end of 1979 to the early 1990's amounts to a catalogue of serious and systematic abuse by you over a period of nine years."

The judge said Ward, a married man who has no children, targeted youngsters who had difficult family backgrounds.

He picked on youngsters whose parents were divorcing, or where there was a lack of money, and offered them free extra tuition.

Parents were grateful to the teacher for the interest he showed in their offspring, unaware that his real motive was to perform sickening sex acts on the children.

The judge said: "Your real intent was to groom the boys for your sexual perversions. You groomed the parents in your way so that they trusted you."

Ward had been found guilty of 16 charges at the end of an eight-day trial in January.

His victims were aged between 11 and 17 and attended Leggatts School in Leggatts Way, which has since closed, and Francis Combe School in Horseshoe Lane.

The boys were abused at three different houses, where Ward lived - Hillfield Avenue, Hornsey and Belmont Road and Botley Road in Hemel Hempstead.

He also took them on holiday to France.

Mr Stuart Trimmer, prosecuting said the victims were now aged between 25 and 33. He said: "They have gone on to get good jobs and are grateful to him for his tuition, but he used the opportunity to groom them.

He had power over them and they were not in a position to complain.

"He created a master-apprentice relationship in which they were required to pass tests, which involved them undressing and indulging in acts of indecency."

Ward, now of Brambling Rise, Sittingbourne in Kent, was arrested in March last year, and was suspended from teaching.

Ward was found guilty of four charges of buggery, involving two of the boys, ten charges of indecent assault and two of indecency with a child.

Ms Shelagh Davies defending Ward, who has taught for 34 years, said: "This man was a gifted and dedicated teacher who gave of himself and his time.

"His true love and vocation of life has come to an end. He acknowledges he will never be able to return to teaching."

She said it was through Ward's inability to form relationships with other adults that he turned to his pupils instead. It was those that lead to sexual encounters between Ward and the boys.

She added: He believed that what was happening was born out of mutual feelings, but he has now had to react to his warped feelings."

She said he was now full of remorse and contrition for the offences.