Ex-teacher Tyrone Castles at private Glebe House School in Hunstanton raped boarder on at least 50 occasions, court is told

A former teacher in Hunstanton has been jailed today for 25 years for a “serious and serial” campaign of child sexual abuse.

Father-of-five Tyrone Castles was working at Glebe House Boarding School when he abused at least five vulnerable boys between August 1988 and October 1990.

Castles’ actions were, said His Honour Judge Shaw, “the most egregious breaches of trust” that the court had ever come across.

One lad, who was a boarder and away from his family, was raped on at least 50 occasions between the ages of nine and 11.

Among the painful and highly emotional accounts relayed to the court, it was said the last dying words of the victim’s father were to apologise for what Castles did to his son.

The victim was watching Friday’s sentencing proceedings at Norwich Crown Court via a video link to see justice served on Castles.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said: “Not a day goes by without thinking about what Tyrone did. There’s a constant black cloud over me.”

Another victim said his childhood had ended at the age of 12 due to the abuse by Castles who had blackmailed him into calling him “Dad”.

The court was told that Castles’ first victims had been groomed while he taught in South Africa in his early 20s.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to many charges of buggery, gross indecency and indecent assault on boys under 16.

Castles, of Dockray, Cumbria, believes he will die in jail.

His solicitor, David Wales, said: “The step he took from the pavement [into the court] is liable to be the last one he takes as a free person.”

Mr Wales added: “He accepts entirely his responsibility for his offences. He recognises and knows that any apology he offers is likely to be ill received.

“Mr Castles is aware of the harm that has been caused to his victims. He is aware of the great damage he has done. He’s going to carry that knowledge to his grave.”

Mr Wales said the pre-sentence report made it clear that Castles did not enjoy the happiest of childhoods but his client has not tried not to make that an excuse.

Judge Shaw told Castles that he had caused severe psychological harm to his victims, adding: “It was effectively a campaign of serious and serial sexual abuse committed by you over a two to three-year period when you were working as a teacher at Glebe House Boarding School in Hunstanton.”

After Castles had been sent down, the judge said: “I would like to pay tribute to the police officers who have worked so hard and, in particular, to the victims and their families for the courage and dignity they have shown in bringing this matter to justice.”

After the case an officer from Norfolk police said he hoped that terrible as the case was, detectives hoped others would now be emboldened to come forward if they had suffered similar trauma.