A FORMER gymnastics coach and Eton College teacher has been jailed after raping a 14-year-old girl in the 1970s.

Jeffrey Quirk, of Reading Road, Stratfield Turgis, Hampshire, was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault and four counts of rape after he abused his gymnastics pupil over the course of a number of years.

The 74-year-old, who previously worked at Eton College but who was not employed by the school at the time of the offending, was today locked up for 12 years.

His attacks came after he 'took advantage' of the aspiring gymnastics performer.

Reading Crown Court heard how Quirk was able to assault the girl after grooming her family in order to get access to her by himself.

The court heard how his abuse started with touching over and under her clothes and escalated to rape after she did not tell her family of his exploitative behaviour.

His attacks came at a number of locations in Berkshire and Surrey, including Windsor Theatre, Windsor Marina, his old flat in Langley and at a school.

Quirk was reported to Thames Valley Police in April 2019 via Operation Hydrant, which was established in 2014 to provide operational coordination for non-recent child sexual abuse investigations involving people of public prominence and where offending took place within an institution.

In a statement read by prosecutor Alisdair Smith, the victim said: “I came across a photo of me as a gymnast aged 14 or 15.

“I saw I was only a child at the time.

“When I saw that photo it dawned on me it was not my fault. It was an abuse of power.

“I remember my childhood in two periods -- before the abuse and afterwards.

“Before I was happy. After, I have extremely unhappy memories.”

Ruby Selva, defending, said Quirk was a charitable man and asked His Honour Judge Nawaz to reduce his sentence on account of his early-onset dementia.

The Judge said Quirk “took advantage” of the fact the victim was a child gymnast and her eagerness to progress in the sport.

The Hampshire man was sentenced to twelve years in prison for the non-recent sexual offences.

He will serve up to two-thirds of this time in custody.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Kathryn Webb of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “This has been a lengthy investigation that has only been possible due to the courage of the victim who was abused by an older man who was in a position of trust.

“She has had to live with the consequences of Quirk’s actions for nearly 50 years, and we are pleased to see that justice has now been served.

“Thames Valley Police take all reports of sexual abuse seriously, no matter what the passage of time.

“Anyone wishing to make a report should contact 101.

“We are committed to investigating non-recent offences, and will always look to put offenders before the courts.”