A FORMER Basingstoke school teacher has been convicted of sexually abusing two young boys.

Julius Edwards, who once worked for Dove House School Academy on Sutton Road, was found guilty after a three-week trial at Kingston Crown Court.

The 49-year-old, who changed his name by deed poll to James Edward Ramsay, was charged with the offences, which took place last year.

He pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sexual communication with a child at an earlier hearing.

He was convicted today of a further 18 offences, including 11 counts of sexual activity with a child; one count of assault by penetration; three counts of attempted penetrative sexual activity with a child; and two counts of failure to comply with a notice to provide a key, bringing the total number of charges to 19.

Ramsay’s offending first came to light when police were investigating another matter in relation to one of the victims, and concerns were raised that the victim was potentially being groomed by Ramsay.

The victim was further interviewed and made allegations of contact and online sexual offences against him by Ramsay.

During the interview, the victim mentioned Ramsay had bragged about relationships he had had with other underage boys. 

Further enquiries were carried out and the second victim was identified, who also said he had been sexually abused by Ramsay.

During this investigation, the Metropolitan Police contacted the investigating officer to notify him that Ramsay had been linked to an investigation of sexual communication with a child (online), involving an undercover online officer posing as a 13-year-old boy.

Ramsay was a teacher at the Dove House School in Basingstoke at the time of his arrest but neither of the victims were pupils at the school.