A former deputy headteacher who was jailed for indecent assaults on pupils has been sentenced to a two-year conditional discharge after another victim came forward.

Anthony Robert Archibald, aged 72, of Southlands Crescent, Port Erin, taught at Murray’s Road school in the 1970s.

He was jailed for 30 months in 2005 for indecent assaults on boys at the school after a number of historical complaints were made by men who were boys at the school at the time.

It was said that Archibald left the school after complaints were dealt with internally.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the court how Archibald had started teaching at Murray’s Road in 1974 and had also been deputy head teacher at the school.

The latest victim to come forward said that he had been attending the school as an eight-year-old in 1976 and had Archibald as his form tutor.

He said that he was a sporty child and was involved in various clubs at the school including a table tennis one, which was run by Archibald. The victim said he was sat on a vaulting horse by Archibald when the teacher put his hand inside the child’s shorts and fondled his private parts.

He said this occurred numerous times and that Archibald would also call boys out and put them over his knee.

The victim said Archibald had also touched his private parts through his clothes and had made it all seem ’like a game’.

He said at the time he had felt a sense of security but now recognised that this was false.

When interviewed about the latest accusation Archibald said he did remember the victim and admitted that what he said was ’probably true’ but he could not recall.

Archibald said that he went through a period when he abused children and had known for a very long time that it was completely wrong.

Prosecutor Ms Braidwood said that it was an unusual situation as Archibald had already served a custodial sentence and been registered as a sex offender.

The court heard that the current complainant had known about the original police investigation in 2005 but said he had mental health difficulties at the time and was not in a position to make a complaint.

He was said to have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

Ms Braidwood said that, had this victim come forward at the time, it was unlikely to have affected the overall penalty which Archibald received.

Archibald was said to have spent 10 years on the sex offenders register and undergone a lot of intervention with authorities.

The court heard that he also had a conviction for provoking behaviour in 2007 relating to taking photos of children.

rehabilitation

Defending Archibald in court advocate Roger Kane agreed that it was an unusual case, saying that the rehabilitation process which his client went through for many years could be put in jeopardy.

’He respects that the victim in the case may need closure,’ said the advocate. ’There is an element of double jeopardy. He wants to make a heartfelt apology towards the victim.’

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said: ’I am minded to deal with this by way of a conditional discharge for two years

’There is no benefit in probation, that is all done.’

Mrs Hughes said that some offences of a similar nature had been taken into consideration in 2005 and had this been a standalone offence coming before her for the first time she would have sent it for committal.

She continued: ’It is not usual for an offence to be brought back before the court arising out of circumstances for which the defendant was sentenced in 2005. The prosecution has indicated they are happy there is no ongoing risk.

Had this been before the court in 2005 it would have been dealt with by way of a concurrent sentence or an offence taken into consideration. That is in no way minimising the complaint.’