THE father of a boy abused by paedophile Anthony Bulley while he worked at Stony Dean School has accused Buckinghamshire County Council of failing to protect his son.

Bulley, 39, who was head of care at the special school in Orchard End Avenue, Pineapple Road, Amersham, was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping two boys, one of them twice, and other sexual offences at Oxford Crown Court, on Monday.

It emerged that abuse allegations had been made against Bulley twice since 1995.

The victim's father asked: "Did anybody even go back and check his references? The question is at that stage, what steps were taken to protect the boys and to protect him from himself? It is clear that protection of the boys is paramount. The school had a duty to protect. I just wonder if any steps were taken at all. These allegations are just the tip of the iceberg. A lot of children there are not particularly articulate"

Bulley admitted six offences against four vulnerable boys with learning difficulties, although the police investigation found a total of seven victims and brought 17 charges against him.

The charges he did not admit will remain on file.

Sentencing, Judge Julian Hall told Bulley: "Those who work with children do a very important job. Those who work with disadvantaged children deserve our approbation even more. You have polluted the waters of decent hard-working teachers. It is clear from reading the victims' impact statements that you have caused a wave of distress to the boys and members of their families."

The victim's father continued: "I think Bucks County Council does not take the business of looking at what goes on in residential care throughout the county seriously enough. How was this allowed to continue?"

The court heard that Bulley joined Stony Dean in 1995 after working at another school in Oxfordshire where a similar allegation had been made.

In 2002, he was suspended from his Amersham role after a boy told his parents and police he had been sexually abused.

But the case was dropped due to insufficient police evidence and Bulley was reinstated.

The father is angry that the previous allegation was not highlighted when he applied for the job.

Marion Clayton, portfolio holder for schools at the county council, assured the vicitm's father that an investigation was underway.

"I can understand that there are deep staff and parental concerns about this very serious matter.

"It would be highly inappropriate for us or the school to comment on individual aspects of this case until our inquiry, a Serious Case Review, is concluded. I can reassure parents and staff that our inquiry will be independent, rigorous and fair.

"For these reasons the review will take some time.

"This is required by law and it is normal practice to publish outcomes appropriately once the report is finalised.

She added: "Meanwhile we continue to support staff, parents and children through this very difficult time.

"We also ask for their understanding that being thorough always takes longer."