A former preparatory school teacher who sexually abused a boy she privately tutored has been jailed for seven years. Deborah Franklin, 65, from Radlett, Hertfordshire, was convicted earlier this year at St Albans Crown Court of eight counts of gross indecency against the boy, who was between the ages of nine and 12 at the time of the offences in the 1990s.
Abuse of trust
Sentencing Franklin at the same court, His Honour Judge Choudhry said her offending involved a “profound abuse of trust”. Prosecutor Gavin Pottinger told the hearing that Franklin “took the opportunities provided by her role and the trust placed in her to repeatedly abuse the boy”.
The court heard that Franklin was in her 30s and married when the offences took place. She had denied all charges and claimed she could not remember tutoring the boy. She continued to maintain her innocence.
Details of the abuse
It was said that Franklin took her clothes off in front of the boy, kissed him, got him to touch her and performed multiple sexual acts. After she began tutoring him privately, she would visit his house and invite him to hers. The complainant viewed Franklin as “young and high energy”, who often acted like a “mate” and spoke about drugs, cigarettes and sex.
Mr Pottinger said she was trusted by the boy’s family to be in his room during tutoring sessions, but added that she was a woman “whose boundaries were just not there”. The complainant’s sister once saw Franklin under the covers of her brother’s bed.
Court evidence
The court was told that during one sexual encounter in the garage at the complainant’s house, Franklin took off her clothes and asked: “Do you want to touch me?” On another occasion, at her own house, she tied him to her bed, blindfolded him and tickled him. The complainant said that during another sex act, Franklin called out her husband’s name.
Jurors heard that the complainant alleged Franklin described herself as his “girlfriend” but advised him to be discreet about others finding out. The complainant first reported the incidents to police in March 2024.
Giving evidence, Franklin told jurors that it was “quite common for teachers and parents and children to socially interact”. Asked by Ms Byrnes if there was any truth in the allegations that she sexually touched the boy during tutoring sessions, she denied any wrongdoing. She told jurors that it would not have been “unusual” to be in a pupil’s bedroom or on their bed while tutoring them.
Ms Byrnes previously told the court that Franklin was no longer working at the school and had been involved with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) charity before her conviction.
