A FORMER head teacher who raped and sexually abused a child has been jailed for 16 years.

The allegations were made against Lee Brumby while he was head at Mayflower High School in Billericay, in 2022. The victim was not a pupil at the school, either past or present.

He was tried and found guilty of the crimes at Southend Crown Court in August and appeared at Basildon Crown Court for sentencing.

He was found guilty of two counts of rape, two of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and one of indecency with a child.

The charges related to offences that took place between 2001 and 2014.

Sentencing Brumby on Friday, (19 September) Judge Richard Conley said the 64-year-old, of Wellands in Witham, was a "deeply selfish man" who left behind a "trail of devastation".

Judge Conley was told that, on one occasion, he made his victim "pretend to be a waitress, asking him what he wanted, pretending to serve him"

Judge Conley said the victim's life had been "blighted by crimes of sexualised violence".

Brumby, who had pleaded not guilty to all charges and told his original trial: "I'm struggling to know why these allegations have been made", was suspended by Mayflower High School after the allegations emerged.

He also worked at Southend High School for Girls, St Clere's School in Stanford-le-Hope, and at a school in Newcastle, as well as having a brief spell as a police officer.

"No doubt the pupils and parents of the pupils you taught will be left aghast when they learn of the kind of man whose charge they placed their children," Judge Conley said.

"It must have come as an enormous shock to learn what you were doing, hiding in plain sight."

Judge Conley said Brumby had posed at "the epitome of respectability; an accomplished professional".

Peter Rouch KC, mitigating, said Brumby continued to deny the allegations.

His ex-wife Elaine Brumby, of Kiln Way, Great Wakering, near Southend, was found not guilty at the original trial six offences related to the assaults.

Judge Conley said Brumby would serve a further year on licence after his 16-year sentence had been served.

He made a restraining order preventing Brumby from contacting his victim for life, and ordered he sign the sex offenders' register.