A former drama teacher convicted of sexually abusing numerous under-age students over nearly three decades has been given a lengthy prison term.

Keith Athol Bates-Willie, 71, will spend the bulk of the rest of his life behind bars after Justice Stephen Estcourt sentenced him to 21 years' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 11 years.

The defendant was found guilty by a jury in August of all 14 of the charges he faced, including multiple counts of indecent assault, persistent sexual abuse of a child, as well as a count each of rape and aggravated sexual assault.

Ten men who studied under Bates-Willie at high schools and colleges in the Hobart area from 1979 to 2006 brought the complaints.

The jury heard during the three-week trial that Bates-Willie had a strong sexual interest in

See Full Page