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The headteacher of Eton College has apologised and said he was “appalled” after a former teacher was jailed for sexually assaulting a pupil.
Jacob Leland, who taught Russian, was jailed on Friday for three years and three months for sexually assaulting one of his students during a school trip.
Leland, then aged 23, carried out the assaults in 2012 while working at the prestigious all-boys boarding school. He first assaulted the pupil after inviting him and his friends over to his flat, where he gave them alcohol and cigarettes.
After the victim’s friends left, he kissed the boy before placing the pupil’s hands over his own groin, Reading crown court heard. Leland committed a third sexual assault on the schoolboy by performing oral sex on him during a school trip away from the school.
Eton is England’s largest boarding school, whose former pupils include Prince William and Prince Harry. Twenty former prime ministers, including Boris Johnson most recently, are Old Etonians.
Leland, from Gatcombe Road in Tufnell Park, north London, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault on a male last year after a trial at Reading crown court.
The headteacher, Simon Henderson, who was not in post at the time of the assault, said in a statement: “Eton needs to acknowledge not only that something this serious was able to take place at our school, but also that it took several years for the details of what happened to come to light.
“As headmaster, I remain appalled that this abuse happened at Eton. Leland’s criminal conduct represents the most egregious breach of trust.
“Those who were directly impacted by Leland’s actions had the right to be safe and secure in our care.
“I reiterate my unreserved apologies to them on behalf of the school.”
During the sentencing hearing at Reading on Friday, the judge, Kirsty Real, told Leland: “The relationship of teacher and student at a school gives rise, undoubtedly, to a significant level of responsibility towards the victim upon which the victim would be entitled to rely.”
The court was told on Friday that Leland was “trusted” by a housemaster at one of the 25 boarding houses at the school to look after the students and follow the school’s rules.
Real added: “For the victim, the psychological effects of what you did to him have been long-lasting and serious.”
In his statement, Henderson said the welfare and wellbeing of the school’s pupils were its “top priority”.
He said: “When safeguarding issues arise they are dealt with in accordance with our established processes.
“We work in close partnership with external authorities, referring matters to them where appropriate, as we did in this case.”
