A private maths tutor has been jailed for two years after admitting a string of sexual offences committed against boys he was teaching at his home

Nicholas Fay, 72, of Basing Hill, Wembley was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on March 10 after pleading guilty to the offences at the same court on March 6.

Fay has been issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) preventing him from having any unsupervised contact with people under 16 and he will be subject to Sex Offender Registration for ten years.

Judge Greenwood said: “What you did was serious. You were a maths tutor and were entrusted by the children and their parents - you abused their trust. You incited them to take part in activity with each other.

“You told them not to tell their parents, but fortunately they did.”

Fay admitted four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity at his home address on 20 July 2015; the offences relate to four boys who were aged ten at the time of the incidents.

Fay was arrested on July 21 2015 after one of the boys he was teaching told his parents that Fay had behaved inappropriately towards him. He said Fay had incited him to engage in sexual activity with him and the three other boys.

Officers from the Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command in Edgware immediately launched an investigation.

Additionally, four other boys made similar allegations against Fay dating back to 1999 and 2006 which were referenced by the Judge as bad character evidence in sentencing Fay.

Detective Constable Janine Stevenson of the Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command said: “The victims’ parents put their trust in Fay to teach their children whilst they were under his supervision - he breached that trust in the most abhorrent way.

“I would like to thank all of the families involved in this investigation - without their assistance the outcome would not have been possible.

“Fay initially refused to accept the charges which meant that the children were faced with the fear of having to attend court to give evidence. Thankfully, he eventually changed his plea on the first day of trial, avoiding them additional distress.

“Fay has caused immense distress and trauma for the victims and their families and I hope his sentence will go towards providing some closure for them.

“Fay has been teaching children privately for at least 18 years and we fear there may be more victims.

I would urge any other potential victims to come forward and contact me as soon as possible.”

An NSPCC spokeswoman said: “Fay shamelessly betrayed the trust placed in him for his own sexual gratification.

“His victims’ bravery in speaking out has helped bring him to justice and it is right that he is now behind bars.

“We hope this case gives hope to other survivors of child sexual abuse that they will be listened to if they come forward.”

Anyone with information of a potential victim is asked to contact DC Janine Stevenson on 101. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.

Anyone concerned about a child can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice. Children and young people can call Childline on 0800 1111, or get help online at www.childline.org.uk