Teacher found guilty of gross indecency against boy over multiple sex acts in 1990s

A teacher who was a boy's private tutor has been found guilty of tying him to her bed and blindfolding him during sexual acts in the 1990s.

Deborah Franklin, 65, is facing jail after being convicted of eight counts of gross indecency against the complainant when he was aged between nine and 12.

Franklin, who was married and aged in her 30s at the time, was "trusted" by the family to be in the boy's room during tutoring sessions, prosecutor Gavin Pottinger said.

Jurors at St Albans Court were told she took her clothes off in front of the boy, kissed him, got him to touch her and performed multiple sexual acts.

The court heard Franklin, who taught at a preparatory school in Hertfordshire, was regularly at the complainant's house, with his sister saying of the defendant: "She was fun, she was charismatic. I thought she was cool."

The boy viewed her as "young" and "high energy", who "presented like a mate" and spoke about drugs, cigarettes and sex, the court heard.

But Franklin, of Radlett, Hertfordshire, was a woman "whose boundaries were just not there", Mr Pottinger said.

The defendant was once seen by the complainant's sister under the covers of her brother's bed, the court heard.

The victim made a number of other detailed allegations about her behaviour.

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The complainant, who is now in his 40s, alleged the defendant described herself as his "girlfriend" but urged him to be discreet about other people finding out, jurors were told.

He said he had "no memory of work ever being done" during tutoring sessions, the court heard.

Franklin had denied all the charges, saying she could not remember tutoring the youngster.

She told jurors it was "quite common for teachers and parents and children to socially interact".

The defendant also said it would not have been "unusual" to be in a pupil's bedroom or on their bed while tutoring them.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said Franklin was charged under the Indecency with Children Act 1960, which was in place at the time of the offences. This was later replaced by the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

She was remanded into custody and was told by the judge she faces a "high possibility" of being jailed when she is sentenced on 1 October.

(c) Sky News 2026: Teacher found guilty of gross indecency against boy over multiple sex acts in 1990s