Philip Watson, aged 60, of Beach Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday, 27 August 2026, after being found guilty of four counts of historic indecent assault against three schoolboys.
The criminal investigation uncovered that Watson carried out the non-recent sexual abuse across the 1990s while working as a teaching assistant at schools located in Sunderland and Northumberland.
The court heard that Watson exploited his professional position to target three young boys on separate occasions.
The offences took place in various school settings, including on the school bus, within school shower facilities, and during an organised school summer camp.
Watson had previously been convicted and jailed for six years in 2017 for committing child sex offences against three other schoolboys connected to the same employment role.
His previous conviction included five counts of indecent assault on a male, one count of sexual assault, and one count of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13.
Northumbria Police launched two subsequent inquiries when three additional victim-survivors came forward to report that Watson had subjected them to identical abuse during their school years.
When interviewed by detectives, Watson denied all allegations and refused to take accountability for his actions.
Watson entered not guilty pleas, forcing the case to a full jury trial at Newcastle Crown Court.
Following deliberations, the jury convicted Watson of:
- Four counts of indecent assault on a male
The presiding judge sentenced Watson to a total custodial sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.
The court also ruled that Watson will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life and confirmed that his lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) remains in full effect.
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