Hunstanton school headmaster condemns 'abhorrent' sex crimes committed by former teacher

The current leader of a West Norfolk school where a former teacher sexually abused boys more than 30 years ago has described the offences as “abhorrent”.

Tyrone Castles, 59, was given a 25-year prison sentence, made up of 24 years behind bars and a year on licence, when he appeared before Norwich Crown Court on Friday.

He had previously pleaded guilty to eight offences, committed during the late 1980s and early 1990s while he was working at the Glebe House School in Hunstanton.

Glebe House headmaster Louis Taylor invited anyone who experienced sexual abuse at the Hunstanton school to contact them when charges against Castles were first revealed in June.

In a statement following the sentencing hearing, Mr Taylor said: “As Headmaster of Glebe House School, I hope that the sentence given to Mr Castles is of some comfort to his victims.

“Mr Castles’ crimes were abhorrent - they breach the trust that every pupil should have in their teachers and the adults that are there to care for them.

“Glebe House School has the highest standards of safeguarding and we continue to reflect on and update our policies regularly to ensure that no child could come to harm here.

“Our thoughts are with the survivors of this abuse and my heart goes out to all who suffered at the hands of Mr Castles.”

In a letter to parents, details of which were released after Castles pleaded guilty to his crimes last month, Mr Taylor assured parents and former pupils that anyone who came forward with allegations would be “believed and supported”.