DISGRACED former headmaster Rory O'Brien is to appeal against his conviction for abusing pupils.

O'Brien, 57, was jailed for three years earlier this month after being convicted of five charges of indecent assault on pupils at St Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst, where he had taught for 38 years.

But he is to challenge the Preston Crown Court verdicts at the Appeal Court in London on Monday.

Father-of-five O'Brien, of Kemple End, Stonyhurst, was convicted of the assaults on three pupils, dating from the 1970s. He was cleared of a sixth charge relating to a fourth pupil.

O'Brien attended Stonyhurst College as a child - as did his fathers and two brothers - before returning to its prep school St Mary's Hall, as a teacher. He became deputy head in 1968 and then head since 1990.

After his conviction, the family indicated they intended to lodge an appeal against the verdicts.

The judge at the trial had described O'Brien as a "hypocrite and a humbug" and said for 25 years he had been living a life of perversion.

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