POLICE have praised the courage of North Yorkshire youngsters for helping an investigation which put their music teacher behind bars and ended his 16 years of systematic sexual abuse.

The honorary recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, told Geoffrey Kitchen that his depravity was the worst of its type he had ever encountered.

"This case involved the systematic sexual practice by you of a sado-masochistic nature over a period of 16 years up until your arrest," the judge added.

He jailed Kitchen, 48, of Scalby Way, Scarborough, for eight years plus two years' supervision by probation officers and banned him from working with children for life.

Kitchen admitted 18 charges of indecent assault and two of gross indecency. The offences were committed on ten boy pupils aged nine to 15 during "music lessons" at his home.

Outside York Crown Court, Detective Sergeant Geoff Carey, who headed the police inquiry into Kitchen, said that if one boy had not broken years of silence and come forward the teacher could still be abusing children and praised the courage of all the pupils who gave statements against him.

In court, Nicholas Barker, prosecuting, described how Kitchen used handcuffs, ropes and harnesses to tie up the boys, drugged them with amyl nitrate and whipped and caned them.

He had earlier ingratiated himself with their families, including sharing Christmas with one, and groomed the boys by giving them alcopops, money, sweets and pornographic material.

For Kitchen, Anil Murray said he was remorseful and wanted counselling. His actions had been signs of affection, not brutality. He was a talented musician and teacher who had not gone into teaching to abuse children.

Updated: 15:29 Friday, March 14, 2003