AN EX-UXBRIDGE teacher was convicted of the indecent assault of three former school pupils yesterday.

Terence Peter Back, 71, of Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, was found guilty of indecent assault on three young children at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday June 2.

Back was a former teacher at Whitehall Junior School in Uxbridge and Kingsway Junior School in Watford.

An investigation commenced in 2013 when a former Whitehall Junior School female pupil made an allegation to police concerning her former teacher, Back.

The offences she alleged amounted to gross indecency and indecent assault. The offences dated back to 1974.

Back was interviewed under caution by police on May 2 2013 where he denied the offences.

Enquiries led police to attend Kingsway Junior School, in Garston, Watford and a further two victims were identified and traced who provided information to police. Offences at this school dated back to the early 1980s.

The information given to police by the witnesses and pupils gave similar accounts of Back's activities.

Back was arrested and interviewed in relation to these allegations on April 28 2014 and June 27 2014. He was later charged on September 8 2015.

The 71-year-old was found guilty on Thursday June 2 at Isleworth Crown Court of indecent assault on a female who was aged seven years at the time, indecent assault on a male aged 11 and under at the time and indecent assault on another female child who was aged 11 years at the time.

Back will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday June 30.

Detective Constable Emma MacDonald of the Met's Child Abuse Investigation Team said: "This was a lengthy enquiry and the Crown Prosecution Service authorised numerous charges against Back in 2015.

“There were similarities in the accounts of the witnesses, pupils of Back's years apart who did not know each other and who attended different schools, miles apart.

“Although this was a protracted investigation, I wish to thank the witnesses for their full support. They have shown such bravery reliving painful memories to the team and at court.

“Giving evidence can be very daunting but witnesses are supported throughout the process.

“Even though these types of cases can take some time, police will persevere and try to bring the offender to court so justice is done.

“I hope that Back's conviction will help ease the painful memories of his victims."

Image courtesy of Ray Forster, with thanks