pretence

They said that to stay in business they have to go along with the pretence that they are using waste materials.

"The pretence is that baled tyres are being sent to India and then shredded and granulated in a factory very similar to ours," explains Mr Mason.

"Most of the world has already given up any pretence that it is affordable or achievable," said Lord Mackinlay, founder of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group.

Police said the abuse would often take place in toilets at night when he would wake boys on the pretence that he wanted to stop them wetting the bed.

He added: "These individuals were co-operating with front organisations linked to the intelligence services of hostile and Western countries under the pretence of research and investigative activities."