Former Eton Teacher Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of Vulnerable Student During School Trip

A PAEDO teacher who sexually abused a boy at an elite college has been jailed.

, 37, was yesterday sentenced to three years and three months’ in for a number of child sexual offences occurring at , Berkshire, in the 2010s.

Former Eton College teacher Jacob Leland was jailed on FridayCredit: PA He was a tutor at Eton College when the offences occurredCredit: Alamy

Leland abused a vulnerable boy on a school trip and wrestled with other pupils in their bedrooms, his trial heard.

The school’s alumni include the likes of actor , George Orwell and former Prime Minister .

Leland taught Russian in the Modern Languages department between 2010 and 2012 and was described at court as “young, vibrant, energetic, charismatic”.

But he was also an assistant to the housemaster at one of Eton’s 25 boarding houses, Common Lane House.

In this role, Leland was responsible for putting the boys to bed on a Monday night, taking the 8pm register and imposing “lights out”.

It was revealed to Crown Court that Leland had performed oral sex on the unnamed boy.

The shocking took place on a trip while Leland also kissed the boy and placed his hand over his groin on his birthday.

The trial saw former students, and Leland himself take to the stand where the court heard of Leland’s abuse.

Leland, of Camden, London, will be on the sex offender register for life.

He was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault following a trial at Reading Crown Court which concluded on October 14.

Leland was acquitted of 13 counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual assault.

The offences were reported to Thames Valley in 2020 and the Child Abuse Unit launched an investigation.

One former pupil told The Telegraph that he’d come into their room and say “Ok, let’s wrestle”.

“He would grapple with you, and you had to fight really hard, he’d put his whole body weight on you,” they said.

The heard how Leland, in his early 20s, was often seen more an “older brother” rather than a teacher which allowed him to test physical boundaries with pupils.

It was also revealed he would engage in inappropriate conversations with the 15-year-old boys as well as show them explicit photos and videos.

One student who was taught by Leland described himself as a “vulnerable human being” and spoke of when he visited his teacher’s flat on his birthday with his friends.

The student told the court that Leland wanted to give him a “birthday present” and sent the others outside.

“He came back into the room, he came over to me, kissed me, and then sort of grabbed my arm and guided my hand to his crotch,” the student said.

He added that, three weeks later, Leland performed oral sex on him when Leland invited him and another boy to his hotel room during a school trip.

He recalled how he struggled to come to terms with the abuse afterwards.

Simon Henderson, the current headmaster of Eton College issued “unreserved apologies” to those impacted by Leland’s actions and referred to his behaviour as an “egregious breach of trust”.

“I am appalled that this abuse happened at Eton… Eton needs to acknowledge not only that something this serious was able to take place at our school, but also that it took several years for the details of what happened to come to light,” he said following the verdicts.

Henderson added that “we will continue to stand beside them” and support those affected.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Kelly Ware, said: “Firstly, I would like to praise the victim in this case for the bravery and courage that he has shown in coming forward and for supporting this investigation.

“Leland held a position of trust and completely abused this by committing abhorrent crimes that will have a long-lasting effect on his victim. No one should have to go through what they went through.

“No matter what the passage of time, we will also investigate such offences thoroughly and support victims.

“When offences such as this are reported, victims will always be listened to, and we will do all that we can to hold individuals to account and put them before the for their actions.”

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