UK artwork trainer given ‘demise sentence’ after abusing 14 younger boys in his ‘secret intercourse membership’

Art teacher James Waters, who was a ‘favourite’ of his pupils, used his position to sexually abuse 14 boys in a ‘death sentence’ of 14 years after being convicted of an array of horrifying offences

A depraved sex abuser exploited his popularity as a teacher to prey on 14 boys, subjecting them to a twisted “sex club” while he was employed at a preparatory school in Surrey.

Art teacher James Waters has been handed a 14-year prison term, described as a “death sentence”, after being found guilty of a string of heinous sex offences.

Waters, residing in Beeford between Brandesburton and Bridlington, faced sentencing for 36 sex crimes committed historically through out the 1980s, consisting of 25 counts of indecent assault, nine of indecency with a child, and two counts of a severe sexual offence.

Following a nearly two-and-a-half-week trial, a jury found him guilty of four offences, including the two most severe, with the remaining charges admitted to by Waters prior to the trial.

Waters, whose full name is Terence James Waters, was subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and was required to register as a sex offender for life. Upon release from prison, he will be on extended licence for one year.

According to prosecutor Daniel Stephenson, Waters utilised “Classic grooming behaviour” involving activities such as “skinny dipping” and offering payments for boys to be photographed, which ultimately led to sexual activities. In executing his dark predatory actions, Waters would lead students to a dimly lit room, photograph them in the nude and engage in sexual acts with them, including the use of baby oil.

Following his depraved behaviour, Waters would reward the boys and also take them to a loft area where they would undress.

He said to one boy: “Don’t tell anyone what happens. We’ll keep it a secret.”

To another, he said: “This is our secret. This is our stuff.”

Waters, who would press victims not to spill the beans to their mates, coaxed one boy into playing strip poker, telling him: “You are very good at this. You are doing very well.”

He told another lad: “You mustn’t tell anyone. It’s because you are special.”

Mr Stephenson explained that Waters created a “comfortable atmosphere” for photographing the boys, assuring them this was “our little thing together”. One lad was given adult magazines.

“It’s clear that the offending has had a substantial impact on the complainants in this case,” Mr Stephenson stated. “Each of them was particularly vulnerable. They were away from their parents. They were young. This is a clear case of abuse of trust, the defendant being a trusted teacher.”

Before being sent down again this week, Waters already had a significant rap sheet. His record is as follows:.

In his defence, Michael Edmonds argued that the current case was almost a carbon copy of those addressed in 1988 and lamented the “massive delay” in bringing them to court. “Those matters could and should have been dealt with at the same time,” Edmonds stated.

He also pointed out that “The defendant has not assaulted any child or anyone else since the 2011 case.”

Edmonds highlighted that Waters had expressed regret for his past actions and revealed that he himself was a victim of abuse as a child, being “involved in what was effectively child prostitution”. Edmonds further noted: “He has controlled the urges that he simply has… He has resisted temptation.”

The defence lawyer warned that sending Waters to prison now would be akin to a “death sentence”. “There must be for him, even at this age, light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

“He is, to say the least, not well. He has already rehabilitated himself. He has been living a very quiet life being monitored by the police. He is regularly and randomly visited by officers. His offending is now in the distant past. He knows what is coming. He is resigned to his fate. Your Honour ought not to condemn him to death in prison.”

However, Judge Tahir Khan KC countered: “Offending of this gravity must be met by a very significant sentence even if it was many decades ago. The victims are entitled to justice just as much as you are. At the heart of this case is that each of the boys that you preyed on was vulnerable because of their particular circumstances.

“You were able to abuse so many victims because you were a teacher at a prep school where the pupils were either day pupils or boarders. These boys were away from their parents. Teachers were feared and corporal punishment was practised.”

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