A housemaster abused his power to lure pupils into his bedroom before sexually assaulting them.

Allen Meredith, 72, of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, subjected five boys to a series of “horrific” sexual abuse during the 1980s and 90s at two schools in Surrey and Bushey.

Meredith was employed as a housemaster at The Royal Alexandra and Albert School in Reigate in the 80s. There, he was in charge of dormitories, using his authority to get his victims into his room where he would abuse them.

At  St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday, Meredith was jailed for seven years after previously pleading guilty to four charges.

The charges were buggery of a male under the age of 14, indecent assault on boys aged under 14, indecency with or towards boys under the age of 14, and attempted indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14.