Former Trowbridge teacher jailed for historic child sex offences

A former teacher and church choirmaster who "stole his victims' childhoods" has been jailed for historic sex offences.

Robert Kalton, 88, of Ashby Road, Burton upon Trent, taught at St Augustine's Roman Catholic School in Trowbridge.

One of his victims said: "He occupied a position of trust, and he abused that trust in the worst way possible."

Kalton was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on Thursday to four years in jail for six counts of indecent assault.

He was already serving a four-year sentence for similar offences when police began their investigation.

He has now been convicted of a total of 32 sexual offences against at least six young boys, spanning a period of two decades and at various locations across the UK.

The victim in the latest case went to the police in December 2019.

He reported that Kalton, who was a Maths teacher at the secondary school, had abused him multiple times over five years, when he was aged between 11 and 16-years-old, and dating back to the 1970s.

In a statement read to the court, he said Kalton's position meant he had "power and respect".

"School is a place where you spend a large proportion of your childhood. It is a place where you should feel safe," he said.

"Instead, I was made to dread and fear going to school."

Det Sgt Rachel Winter, of Wiltshire Police, described Kalton as a "sexual predator who used his position of authority as a teacher and member of the Catholic church to systematically abuse young boys".

"He stole his victims' childhoods and changed their lives forever," she continued.

"The victim in this case has shown immense courage throughout the investigation and legal proceedings. It is their perseverance which has resulted in the conviction."

Kalton pleaded guilty in November 2023 to four counts of gross indecency with a boy under the age of 14 and two counts of indecent assault with a man over the age of 16.On Thursday he was sentenced to four years for one count of indecent assault on a boy under 14. On three further counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14 he received sentences of 20 weeks, two years, and two years respectively.

On two counts of indecent assault on a man over the age of 16 he received one year and one year respectively. The six sentences will run concurrently.

He is also on the sex offenders register for life.

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