A former headmaster of a special school for children with behavioural problems used his position of trust to run a campaign of sexual abuse against pupils, a court heard.

Dr Alfred Reeves is alleged to have touched, kissed and committed sex acts with pupils in the school dormitories and at the swimming pool at his house.

Reeves, 61, a doctor of philosophy and child psychologist, denies ten charges of indecent assault on a male, six of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child while head of the Mulberry Bush School at Standlake, near Witney, from 1981 to 1991.

The offences are alleged to have taken place on three boys and three girls between 1985 and 1991. All the alleged victims were aged between seven and ten. Joan Butler, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court: "Dr Reeves lived some miles away from the school with his wife and his two children, but slept at the school when he did overnight work. He took advantage of these children."

Miss Butler described how Reeves would go into the boys and girls' dormitories at night with a torch and a bowl of sweets and kiss and cuddle the children.

One several occasions he took one pupil into a clothes cupboard, ordered him to undress and committed an act of gross indecency.

Miss Butler added: "We do not say that Dr Reeves is all black. We acknowledge that he did a great deal of good work while he was at the school."

Miss Butler claimed none of the pupils involved in the allegations had met since leaving the school.

The trial continues.