Head Teacher Jailed For Having Sex With Boys

A nationally-acclaimed head teacher who had sex with two under-age boys has been jailed for eight years. 

Anne Lakey, 55, from Stanley, County Durham, was found guilty on Tuesday of 13 counts of indecent assault on the teenagers in the 1980s.

Teesside Crown Court heard she took one boy's virginity at her home and the other's in a tent on a camping trip.

Lakey, described as a "sexual predator" by prosecutors, had denied committing the offences over a three-year period.

One victim was 15, while the other was aged 13 or 14 at the time he was first assaulted.

'Sexually exploited'

During sentencing on Wednesday, the court heard Lakey's offending was a "gross breach of trust".

Prosecutor Caroline Goodwin read statements to the court written by both men about their experiences.

The younger victim said: "As a kid I thought it was great what was happening, but now I see it for what it was - wrong."

The other said he had since realised he had been a "victim of sexual exploitation".

"I feel a sense of shame that I allowed myself to be in that position," he said.

Sentencing, judge Howard Crowson told Lakey: "You used subtle persuasion and flattery, encouraging each boy to take his first tentative sexual steps with you.

"You corrupted two boys about half your age. They were naive and immature."

'Career destroyed'

Lakey was suspended from her role as chief executive of the Durham Federation, in charge of two secondary schools, after the younger victim sent an accusing email in December 2012.

She had been a national leader in education, lauded for improving pupils' exam performance.

Judge Crowsen told Lakey her sentence would "destroy the career you have worked so hard to build".

"You will find prison a particular hardship, given the illness you have battled against," he added.

Tim Roberts QC, defending, said Lakey had received treatment for breast cancer in 2012 and would require ongoing care.

During her trial, the court heard she groomed the younger victim and took his virginity on the marital bed while he was still in his school uniform.

She also phoned the boy's school and posed as his mother to enable him to play truant.

The older victim and Lakey first had sex in her tent after she encouraged him to sneak over in the middle of the night, jurors were told.

Lakey, a history and RE teacher in Sunderland at the time, went on to have repeated sexual relations with both boys.