A ‘monstrous’ ex-boarding school music teacher has been jailed for 17 years ‘raping a young boy as punishment for making mistakes in class’.
David Hope, now 74, ‘systematically’ sexually abused the boy, who was under the age of 10, and constantly made threats to stop him from speaking out in the 1980s.
The former music teacher, who worked at Malsis School in North Yorkshire, caused ‘unimaginable damage’ to his the victim – who subsequently tried to take his own life on two occasions as a teenager.
Hope, of Leeds, was convicted of three charges of serious sexual assault, three offences of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child following a two-week trial at Bradford Crown Court in December.
The court also heard he had previously served a 20-month prison sentence in the 1990s for offending against other boys.
In an impact statement at Hope’s sentencing on Monday, the victim said: ‘I found it almost impossible to go to school after Malsis. I didn’t speak to teachers after school or one-on-one and my schooling suffered enough that I left at 16 years old.
‘I wouldn’t go to school for a year when I was 12 years old and didn’t go when I was 14 due to the trauma I felt and was facing at the time.
David Hope, pictured leaving Leeds Crown Court in 2013, was jailed for 17 years at Bradford Crown Court on Monday
‘If a teacher spoke to me one-on-one at school, I would become faint and panic. I couldn’t sleep at all, all my life for seeing and thinking about Mr Hope.
‘I felt like I was responsible for it and hated myself, I still struggle. I don’t trust men, and this includes one-on-ones with men including doctors. I question in my head every man I meet as possible rapists.
‘When I was 12 and 15 years old, I attempted suicide due to the incidents at Malsis. I am suffering depression all my life.’
The court heard Hope was brought in for questioning in the early part of 2018 after the victim made his initial complaint to North Yorkshire Police in December 2017.
A complex investigation then took place involving interviews with dozens of former pupils and staff members of the independent preparatory school who were present at the time of the abuse.
Barrister Nicholas Worsley, representing Hope, said in mitigation that the former teacher was now of an age were it was highly likely he would never see outside the prison walls.
He said his client was not a well man and had to use a crutch to get around the prison.
Mr Worsley added: ‘He is now not a healthy or fit man. He is frail. He is infirm.
‘There is a real risk he will he will live out the remainder of his days in custody.’
Passing sentence, Judge Ahmed Nadim said the victim was still bearing the scars of the damage done to him by Hope, who had exploited the his vulnerability.
He told Hope: ‘You are a man who admits to having a sexual interest in young boys, a perversion that appears to be deep-rooted.’
Hope worked as a music teacher at at Malsis School in North Yorkshire (pictured), where he abused the boy as punishment for poor performance in class
The judge said Hope had to be dealt with as ‘an offender of particular concern’ – meaning he had to add an extra year of licence on top of his 17-year custodial sentence.
The court heard the victim’s parents had sent him to the boarding school with the expectation that he would receive a first class education, his character would be developed and the education he received would improve his life opportunities.
However, Judge Nadim added: ‘By committing the offences you committed, you breached every one of those expectations I’ve referred to.’
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Alison Morris, of North Yorkshire Police, described Hope as ‘a monstrous child abuser’.
She said: ‘At Malsis School, David Hope was a music teacher who was respected by his colleagues, held in high regard by the parents who entrusted him with their children, and seemingly popular with many of the pupils he taught.
‘However, that was all just a fake mask of respectability to hide what he really was – a monstrous child abuser who used the act of rape as punishment to a boy for dubious indiscretions such as leaving toilet seat up or making a mistake in class.
“He systematically abused this poor, defenceless child and constantly made threats to stop him from speaking out.
‘This physical and mental torture caused unimaginable damage to the boy who struggled with life through his teenage years, into adulthood, and to this very day.
‘The sickening actions of Hope have taken a life-long toll on him that cannot be fully comprehended.’
Hope will be on the sex offenders register for life.
