Detectives praised the bravery of child home predator Gerald Raffell’s three victims.

‘Gerry’ Raffell, now 74, was working in two children’s homes in Yarnton and near Wallingford when he carried out the sickening abuse against the three boys. One of the boys was molested with a rubber bullet, while others were abused in their dormitories or in the bath.

Jailing him for 11 years at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, Judge Maria Lamb said of the victims: “They were in desperate circumstances: isolated, without the support of their families, and you betrayed their trust.” You can read our full report from the sentencing hearing here.

Welcoming the double-figure jail time, Cowley police station’s DC Martin Turner said: “The victims of these abhorrent offences were vulnerable children, who should have had every right to feel safe.

“Raffell abused his position of trust to commit these offences.

“Even though a significant amount of time has passed since the offences, when they came to light, we commenced an investigation.

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“Thames Valley Police is absolutely committed to investigating offences such as these, no matter what the passage of time.”

He added: “The bravery of all of the victims meant that a serious sex offender has finally been brought to justice.

“Raffell was responsible for assisting vulnerable children in their time of greatest need, and he callously used their vulnerabilities to his advantage in a grotesque breach of trust.

“He has now been given a lengthy prison sentence, and I hope that this will serve as solace to the victims that justice has been served.

“No matter how long has elapsed, we commit to investigating non-recent offences, and we will always seek to bring offenders before the courts to face up to their offending and face justice.”

Oxford Mail: Gerry Raffell outside Oxford Crown Court last yearGerry Raffell outside Oxford Crown Court last year (Image: Oxford Mail)

His comments echoed those of Judge Lamb, who told Raffell on Friday: “I have heard, as we all have, the victim personal statement read out to this court which talk about the effects of what you did upon each of these individuals.

“All can understand that they may feel that the sentences which this court imposes can never reflect the enormity of what was done to them.

“But I hope they have at least the consolation of know that they faced their abuser in court and they were believed by the jurors that heard this case.”