Former detective inspector breaks silence on years of suffering after sexual abuse from his Leeds primary school teacher

A former detective inspector has broken his silence on the sexual abuse he suffered as a boy by his primary school teacher and football coach.
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Michael Crampton today faced 71-year-old Peter Jones as he was finally brought to justice after he found the courage to report the offending which took place more than 40 years ago.

Mr Crampton waived his right to anonymity and told the Yorkshire Evening Post how he hopes his story will encourage other victims of historic sexual abuse to come forward.

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The father-of-two described how his childhood ordeal shaped his adult life, encouraging him to join the police cadets as a 17-year-old.

Peter Jones outside court.Peter Jones outside court.
Peter Jones outside court.

Mr Crampton spent years with West Yorkshire Police hunting sex offenders like Jones.

He currently holds a civilian role as manager at the force’s digital forensics unit, helping to catch online paedophiles.

In an exclusive interview, Mr Crampton described how Jones groomed him from the age of seven when he was put into his class at Primrose Hill School, in Pudsey, Leeds.

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Jones made him the “teacher’s pet” and even ingratiated himself with his family in a bid to gain his trust.

The abuse began in a classroom when he was 10 years old.

Jones continued to target Mr Crampton after he left to go to grammar school.

Mr Crampton says Jones was also a well-known football coach who took “every opportunity” to be around boys.

He remains convinced that Jones preyed on other victims who have yet to come forward.

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Mr Crampton described how he felt guilt for decades for not having the bravery to report Jones, all the while helping other sexual abuse victims find the courage to bring their abusers to justice.

He said: “I needed to do the right thing and lift that burden.

“That guilt of failing to take action for years was like a sack of coal I had to get off my back.

“I stopped being a coward when I confronted it.

“I want to say my piece and help others help themselves.”

Jones, of Sulby Grove, Bradford, admitted four charges of indecent assault and inciting an act of gross indecency against Mr Crampton. Those offences took place between 1973 and 1977.

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Jones admitted two charges of sexually assaulting another boy when he was aged between seven and eight, between May 1972 and May 1974.

He also admitted possessing indecent images of children.

Jones was given a suspended prison sentence due to the state of his health.

Leeds Crown Court Jones stills suffers from the effects of a career-ending “catastrophic” brain injury sustained in a fall while he was out on training run with a group of young footballers in 1982.

Jones’s barrister, Howard Shaw, said the defendant could not remember carrying out the offences against his victims.

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Mr Crampton chose to read his victim impact statement to the court as Jones sat in court.

He said: “I do not know that there other victims. But I am convinced that there will be many.”

Mr Crampton told the court that the punishment handed to Jones was not important to him.

He added: “I have no opinion on what should happen to him.

“I wanted to help others to come forward.”

Jones was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Recorder Jeremy Hill-Baker described the sentence imposed on Jones as “wholly exceptional” due to the state of his health.

He said: “It does not diminish the evilness of what he did.”