A former headmaster carried out sex attacks on boys with special needs aged as young as 10, a court has heard.

David Tuohy, 83, of White House Road, Oxford, taught at and later took charge of Eccles Hall School in Norfolk in the 1970s and 1980s.

During that time, he is accused of exploiting five pupils to satisfy his own sexual urges.

Opening the trial at Norwich Crown Court today, prosecutor Andrew Shaw said Tuohy was obsessed with spanking and lost interest in the boys as they got older.

He told jurors: "You may think from the evidence that he had a particular deviant sexual fascination with the bottoms of very young boys."

Mr Shaw added: "It was a boarding school which catered for children who had not thrived in mainstream education in areas all over the country - in today's language we would say they had special educational or behavioural needs.

"They were separated from their families and plunged into an unfamiliar environment.

"As one of the people charged with the duty of caring for these children, he abused the trust placed in him and used these children for his own sexual gratification."

He added the alleged victims had buried their memories for decades and many came forward after learning police were investigating.

"Many of the now adult men who suffered abuse went on to have significant problems in their later lives," Mr Shaw said.

Tuohy denies 18 counts of indecent assault and four of buggery at Norwich Crown Court.

The charges relate to five different victims, all aged under 16.

The attacks are alleged to have happened at the school, now known as the New Eccles Hall School, in Quidenham.

Mr Shaw said some of the allegations are specimen counts, meaning they are examples of repeated inappropriate conduct by Tuohy.

He added: "One victim told how the abuse began by the defendant lying him across his lap and slapping his bottom.

"The abuse then progressed and over time worsened.

"Another victim has a distinct memory of Mr Tuohy smelling strongly of port and the abuse always began with the defendant lying him across his lap."

He said all of the victims described being spanked by Tuohy.

"Although corporal punishment was not illegal at this time, what they describe reveals a fascination with the bottoms of young boys," Mr Shaw said.

The trial is expected to last up to four weeks.

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