A PRISON Ombudsman report into the death of a former teacher jailed for sexually abusing boys at a private school near Holmes Chapel has found ‘no issues of concern’.

Keith Cavendish-Coulson, a French master at Terra Nova School in the 1970s, was jailed for horrific sex offences against 25 boys.

The 79-year-old died of bronchopneumonia in prison on February 5, last year.

He had pre-existing medical conditions and was treated in prison and hospital as his health deteriorated.

In a report, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, said: “The clinical reviewer concluded the healthcare Mr Cavendish-Coulson received at HMP Bullingdon was equivalent to what he could have expected to receive in the community.

“She has made a number of recommendations about access to palliative care support from external agencies, monitoring weight, referrals to secondary care providers and Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Orders.

“We did not find any non-clinical issues of concern.”

Cavendish-Coulson, from Berkshire, pleaded guilty to 42 counts of indecent assault at Chester Crown Court and was sentenced to six years and nine months behind bars on November 5, 2014.

An investigation by a dedicated team of officers from Cheshire Police’s Major Investigation Team was complex and lengthy with a large volume of evidential material painstakingly sifted through and links to potential victims and witnesses followed up.

As the case unfolded, it became clear that Cavendish-Coulson preyed on youngsters while working at the school but escaped justice for four decades after a cover-up by the then headmaster.

The harsh private prep school was run with a ‘brutal’ military regime and described as like something out of a Charles Dickens novel, as the defendant was jailed.

After befriending his victims, he would molest them in classrooms, their dormitories and his private quarters, sometimes in the presence of other children, with his activities an open secret among the boys.

But despite complaints he was allowed to leave the school for ‘health reasons’ and took up other private teaching posts, including offering his services to Eton College, the court heard.

Jailing him, Judge Roger Dutton said: "It is a sad reflection on the attitudes of that time that even when complaints were made by parents no proper action was taken to investigate these grave allegations.

“That amounted to a shameful and abject failure to deal with serious sexual abuse upon boys.

"One cannot help but conclude that the reputation of the school meant more to those in authority than the exposure of wholesale sexual abuse by a member of staff on their premises.

"It is quite obvious that the impact of the defendant's behaviour has had a profound effect on them all."

DI Steve Beddows, who led the investigation, said: "Cavendish-Coulson showed a blatant disregard for the pupils he was teaching − abusing his position of trust for his own sexual gratification.

"He clearly had no regard for the impact that his actions would have on these young boys who were all under the age of 14 at the time.

“They have had to live with what happened to them and many have struggled to come to terms with this and have suffered greatly over the years.

"I hope that Cavendish-Coulson admitting his guilt and serving his time in prison will help his victims in some way − and bring about a degree of closure for them.

"His victims have shown great courage in coming forward and reporting what happened to them − and subsequently encouraging other victims to come forward.

"I thoroughly commend those who came forward for their bravery and for speaking out about what happened - helping to put a prolific and predatory paedophile behind bars."

Cheshire has a Dedicated Rape Unit with specialist officers to tackle rape and sexual offences and provide support for victims.

Anyone who has been a victim of this type of crime can contact Cheshire Police on 101 or anonymously, through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.