The former boss of an Oxfordshire children’s home has been convicted of sexually abusing boys during the 1970s and 1980s.

Rodney Smallman, of Erica Close, Banbury, was unanimously found guilty of 15 counts of indecent assault on male children today at Oxford Crown Court.

The 72-year-old stared at the floor as the verdicts were read out and was subsequently released on bail by Judge Zoe Smith.

The assaults took place between February 1976 to March 1983 and throughout the trial Smallman denied anything inappropriate had taken place.

He was cleared of a further five counts of indecent assault but was told by Judge Smith that he now faces a custodial sentence.

Smallman will be sentenced on January 12 next year. 

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