A Croydon headteacher who was honoured by the Queen for his services to young people is once again facing jail for sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy.

In August 2016, 76-year-old John Coatman was found guilty of gross indecency with a member of a Christian youth group he was involved with in the 1970s.

His conviction was thrown out by the Court of Appeal in April, because of an error on the charge sheet put before the jury.

When the case returned to the Old Bailey for a retrial, Coatman pleaded guilty to an amended charge of indecent assault.

Following the hearing on Monday, Coatman was bailed to be sentenced on January 12 next year.

Coatman was headteacher of St Andrew's Church of England High School in Waddon and had a 50-year association with the Christian group.

The 76-year-old who described himself as a bachelor, had told jurors he was "shocked" and "deeply shaken" to be arrested.

He denied the accusation that "rough and tumble" with his victim had turned sexual, saying the only physical activity the young people engaged in was British Bulldog.

The topic of sex did crop up during youth group meetings, but only in reference to passages in the Bible involving "Christian aspects of sexual behaviour", he said.

The jury rejected his explanations and found Coatman, of Leyburn Gardens, guilty of two counts of gross indecency but not guilty of buggery.

He retired in 1998 after 42 years as a teacher and was awarded an MBE in 2012.

Claims against him had surfaced in 2014 after the breakdown of the victim's marriage and problems at work.