Reaper, a High School Teacher & Ex-Vale Royal Borough and Kingsley Councillor was jailed for two-and-a-half years after indecently assaulting two vulnerable pupils who had turned to him for help.

Simon Mills, prosecuting, told Chester Crown Court that Reaper had befriended two boys aged 13 and 15. The 13-year-old boy had been suffering from a family bereavement. Reaper took him for a walk to talk about his problems but assaulted him on Helsby Hill. Mr Mills said: "The victim was in some distress but he was powerless in Reaper's care and control."

During police interviews with Reaper another boy came forward and said he had been assaulted from the age of 15 to 17.

He said Reaper had slapped and pinched him on his bottom and kissed him on the back of his head. On one occasion in October 2002, he had taken the teenager, who was having family problems, to the Norton Arms. Mr Mills said "the boy thought they were just mates but Reaper asked him if he wanted anything more. The boy replied 'No. Stay as we are.' The defendant seemed to be disappointed by this."

Brian Cummings, defending, said Reaper had been a man of exemplary character.

Along with the jail sentence Reaper was also banned from working with young children and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Jailing Reaper, Judge Derek Clarke said: "This court has to drive home the message that when people are put in a position of trust and then abuse it, they must realise what the consequences are."