A 70-year-old former teacher at Kesgrave Hall school was jailed for 14 years today after admitting sexually abusing five children.

John McKno’s offences occurred at three schools in Suffolk, Devon and Worcestershire.

McKno, of Alby Hill, Alby, in north Norfolk, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court this afternoon after previously pleading guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing.

Detectives from Suffolk Police’s Operation Garford, which was set-up specifically to investigate allegations of abuse at the former Kesgrave Hall boarding school, first arrested McKno in May 2014.

McKno was also investigated into allegations relating to another defunct educational establishment known as Beam College, in Great Torrington, Devon and McKno was initially charged with offences occurring at Kesgrave Hall and Beam College.

Following these charges, further offences were added to McKno’s indictment when he appeared at Ipswich Crown Court in October last year for a plea and case management hearing.

These related to a third school, the former St Michael’s College, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, and additional offences at Beam College.

Having originally denied all the offences, subsequently McKno pleaded guilty to nine of the twelve offences.

The charges date back to 1975 and span a period of 14 years and relate to boys aged 12-15.