A piano teacher “abused his position of trust to take advantage of young boys” when he sexually assaulted two pupils nearly 60 years ago.

Anthony Roberts sexually assaulted two boys at Boarzell School in Etchingham north of Robertsbridge between 1965 and 1974, when the boarding school closed.

Roberts, now 83, started abusing the boys while they were under the age of 10 and continued to do so for a number of years.

After over half a century Roberts was finally convicted of two counts of indecent assault and two counts of inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency. 

One of Roberts’s victims came forward to Sussex Police in 2017 while a second victim came forward following a media appeal.

Roberts, of Framfield Road, Uckfield, was arrested and charged with two counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14, and two counts of inciting a boy under the age of 14 to commit an act of gross indecency.

He was convicted of all four offences in a trial at Hove Crown Court on June 25.

Detective Constable Stuart Roberts said: “Anthony Roberts abused his position of trust to take advantage of these boys in the most appalling way.

“Both of these victims have had to live with the impact of his crimes for decades. I would like to thank them both for reporting them to the police so we could bring Roberts to justice.

“This investigation should send a clear message that time is no barrier to reporting crimes. No matter how long ago an incident took place, please report it to the police.

“We will believe you and we will do everything we can to get you the justice you deserve.”

Anthony Roberts was sentenced to six years in jail.