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Teacher Abuse of Pupils

In March 2004 a professional body of education worker managers made a false accusation (which they latter withdrew) against the home education community suggesting that a child was put at risk by home education (the child in question was proven to have tragically died of a brain haemorrhage) from this false accusation they attempted to make a broad case against the home education community and demanded in an open letter to a government minister that a number of measures were adopted. These measures, revolving around the intrusive monitoring of families, would have been in contravention of the human rights act.

This led me to consider the safety of children in schools. Subsequently I conducted a quick search of News websites using the search term "Teacher abuse" and found the following list of links.

I should warn readers of this page that many of the following links contain harrowing stories. There are of course many many more cases other than those that I list, however one can only read so many of these reports.

The purpose of putting up this compilation is to point out that schools are not the safe havens for children that they are often claimed to be and that those who represent the authorities can themselves be the cause of abuse rather than the cure.

According to a teacher support organisation between 300 and 500 allegations of abuse are made each year against teachers though less than 5% (15 to 25 cases) are proven in court. Despite the difficulties of obtaining a conviction the low rate of successful conviction has led to demands by some unions for the right to be able to sue those who make false allegations. It is my belief that this would make those who have been abused more reluctant to come forward.

I am not of course suggesting that all teachers abuse their charges. However the idea that children are safe if they are in school, or monitored by the state is clearly nonsense. Many school children every year are abused or otherwise harmed while at school.

In addition to abuse there are also teachers who take less than adequate care of our children leading to death or injury.

Staffordshire

Arch Media Monitoring Project

Arch, the children's rights group monitored the media between September and December 2004 logging all prosecutions for offences against children involving persons in official positions. As we can see they found 45 cases that is 15 a month. These would not include all those cases where reporting restrictions were imposed. (NB: I'm grateful to Arch for allowing me to publish this list.)

3 September 2004 Teacher admits making child porn A schoolteacher admitted making indecent photographs of children. Nigel Chambers, 35, of Rodborough, Yate, near Bristol, was a teacher at Rednock Comprehensive School, Dursley, since September 2001. He admitted one count of making indecent photos of children on his computer and four counts of attempting to make indecent photos of children.

3 September 2004 Priest & teacher downloaded pornographic images of children. A priest who taught at a top public school has been jailed for downloading 12,000 pornographic images of children from the Internet. Desmond O'Keefe, 39, formerly of Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Somerset, was jailed for 18 months on Friday. O'Keefe had earlier admitted 16 counts of making indecent images of children. Bristol Crown Court was also told he made two indecent images of schoolboys at the Abbey when he was a teacher.

10 September 2004-10-25 Doctor faces child porn charge A former doctor at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast has been charged in connection with child pornography. Biju Mohan, 37, from India, was accused of making an indecent photograph of a child last February and of possessing a similar photograph in May at a hearing at Laganside Court, Belfast, on Friday.

15 September 2004 Child porn teacher 'facing jail' A teacher caught with pornographic images of children has been warned he faces a jail sentence. Gerard Cranny admitted at Lincoln Crown Court six charges of making indecent pseudo-images of youngsters.

16 September 04 Doctor admits having sex with boy A hospital doctor has been jailed for nine months after admitting having sex with a 14-year-old boy he picked up in a nightclub. At the time of the offence in February, Dr Aman Kumar, 34, was senior house officer at Hull Royal Infirmary.

17 September 04 Ex-Pc jailed for teen sex assault A former policeman has been jailed for four years after admitting having sex with a 14-year-old girl. Kevin Hicks, 37, was branded a "disgrace to the police service" by a judge at Bristol Crown Court.

19 September 04 Social worker jailed for child porn A former social worker who downloaded pornographic pictures of children from the internet amassed more than 900 images. Nicholas Blatchley, of Brookfield Gardens, Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, was working for Islington Social Services between 1999 and 2002 while he was using his home computer to access the pictures.

20 September 04 Coach jailed for child porn offense A former PE teacher and cricket coach from Sussex has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for distributing child pornography on the internet.

1 October 04 Jail for surgeon over child porn A surgeon who downloaded images of child abuse while on duty has been jailed for four months. Simon Swift, from Chiswick, west London, gave guilty pleas at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court to 24 charges of making indecent images of children.

1 October 04 Ex-chorister jailed for sex abuse A former teacher and choirmaster has been jailed for eight years for a series of serious sexual offences on boys dating back more than 20 years. Mark Peterson, 47, of Locks Heath, Southampton, used trips away and music lessons to carry out the attacks in the 1970s, Guildford Crown Court heard.

6 October 04 Teacher sentenced for child porn A teacher who downloaded child porn on to a computer he later donated to his school has been sentenced to a three-month community rehabilitation order. Nigel Chambers, 36, of Rodborough, Yate, near Bristol, admitted making indecent photos of children between 1999 and 2002.

6 October Former teacher faces sex charges A former teacher from Luton has been charged with sexually abusing children 30 years ago. David Mardle, 61, has been charged with four counts of indecent assault against schoolgirls aged between nine and 11.

6 October 04 GP with child porn is struck off A GP who hid a secret camera in a swimming pool changing room has been struck off the medical register. Kevin O'Sullivan, who had worked at the Jessop Medical Practice in Riddings, Derbyshire, was jailed for a year after he admitted filming naked children. The GP, formerly of Bakewell, also had 200 pornographic pictures of children on computers.

14 October 04 Ex-officer guilty over child porn A former officer with Kent Police has admitted downloading child pornography from the internet over a period of nearly 10 years.

14 October 04 Man aged 80 jailed over assaults An 80-year-old retired teacher and Baptist minister has been jailed for two years for molesting five girls. Geoffrey Breed's offence stretched from 1956 to 2000, Maidstone Crown Court heard on Thursday.

18 October Sex case GP's jail term increased A GP from Darlington, jailed for sexually abusing his patients, has had his sentence increased from three and a half to four and a half years. Dr Syed Amjad Husain pleaded guilty to five offence of indecent assault, eight of possessing an indecent image of a child and 10 of making indecent photographs of a child.

19 October 04 Teacher is jailed over child porn A piano teacher who was caught with more than 70,000 indecent images of children taken from the internet has been jailed for two years. Robert Howieson, 45, of Lambley, Notts, pleaded guilty to 16 counts of making, possessing and attempting to make indecent photos.

20/10/04 Policeman faces jail for sex attacks A police officer was facing jail today after admitting assaulting two scouts. Peter Alderson carried out five sex attacks on the brothers between April 11, 1993, and September 25, 1998

25 October 04 Pc convicted of child sex charges A policeman has been jailed for six years for sexually abusing six young girls at his home in a Leics village. Pc Julian Glynn, 47, was found guilty of 10 counts of indecency with a child and two charges of indecent assault. He denied them all.

25 October 04Teacher indecently assaults 15 year old Schoolteacher Ashley Theasby, who pleaded guilty at Truro Crown Court to having indecently assaulted a 15-year-old girl at newquay, has been remanded on bail by Judge Geffrey Rucker for a pre-sentence report.

27 October 04 Ex-teacher jailed over child porn A former teacher at a top Lancashire public school has been jailed for downloading child pornography. Christopher Score, 54, from Water Street, Ribchester, Lancashire, was in possession of about 590 indecent images, Preston Crown Court was told. He pleaded guilty to making an indecent photograph of a child and possessing indecent photographs of children.

8 November 04 Sex attack deputy head is jailed A deputy head teacher who carried out a series of sex attacks on young girls has been jailed for five years. In September, David Morgan, 42, a teacher at a school in the Wakefield area, admitted 19 counts of indecent assault on five girls.

12 November 04 Ex-teacher guilty of sex assaults A former Staffordshire primary school teacher has been found guilty of indecently assaulting three pupils. The jury at Stafford Crown Court found Simon Pearce, 30, of King Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, guilty on seven counts of indecent assault.

12 November 04 Priest jailed for child sex abuse A priest has been jailed for 12 years for sexually abusing five children, . Fr Michael Gerard McQuillan, whose address was given as Our Lady of Bethlehem Abbey in Portglenone, admitted a total of 40 charges. Including indecent assault, gross indecency and four charges of serious sexual assault. He met his victims while he worked as a chaplain at a County Armagh school.

15 November 04 Child porn police officer freed A former police officer who downloaded almost 4,000 indecent images of children has walked free from court after serving six months in custody. Paul Hook, 32, from Snodland in Kent, pleaded guilty last month at Maidstone Crown Court to 24 charges of making an indecent photograph of a child.

17 November 04 Teacher admits child porn charges A special needs teacher has escaped a prison sentence after admitting downloading more than 2,500 indecent images of children on to his computer. Ralph Bell, of Bankhall Road, Stockport, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates' Court to 20 child porn offences.

18 November 04 Child porn teacher escapes jail A Kent teacher who admitted to downloading child pornography has been spared a jail sentence because the material was "low level". Robert Burke, 33, of Folkestone, also escaped a prison term because he had admitted his guilt and started having counselling sessions. The head of drama at the Duke of York's Military School in Dover was given a three-year community order.

19 November 04 Pedophile jailed for six years A pedophile who fantasised about killing a child has been given a six-year-jail sentence. Roy Dungay, 56, from Kennedy Gardens in Billingham, pleaded guilty in June to three offences of sexual interference with children. He assaulted three six-year-old girls while teaching them reading and computer skills. He told a defence psychiatrist that he had fantasised about snatching a child for sex and finally killing it. Dungay, Working as a teacher's assistant working with youngsters with special needs. The organisation gave him the job because he had no previous convictions and was a computer expert.

20 November Social worker guilty of sex abuse A former Norwich social worker and football coach has been convicted of sexually abusing two teenage boys. A jury at Norwich Crown Court found James Bradford, 29, now of Bridgwater, Somerset, guilty of two counts of indecent assault.

26 November 04 Classroom helper groomed girl, 13 A teaching assistant who groomed a 13-year-old girl for sex is believed to be the first sex offender to be sentenced under tough new legislation. Jamie Gunn, 25, of Haverhill, Suffolk, admitted seven offences and was jailed for three years.

2 December 04 Teacher jailed for abusing boys A former boarding school teacher who sexually abused young boys has been jailed for four-and-a-half-years. Andrew Gordon, of Forest Gate, south-east London, was described by the judge as a "shark" who "cruised the troubled waters of adolescence". Gordon, 49, was found guilty of nine counts of indecent assault by a jury at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court. The court heard Gordon had subjected one boarder to a "systematic and regular campaign of sexual abuse".

3 December 04 Former Pc jailed for abusing boys A former Met police officer who indecently assaulted two teenage scouts during a camping trip has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. Peter Alderson, from Woodford Green, Essex, assaulted the two boys over six years while he was a scout leader.

6 December 04 Teacher jailed for grooming girls A teacher who groomed two girls with internet and text messages has been jailed for four years. The judge at Croydon Crown Court called Iain Robertson, 25, of Kemsing, Kent, a "dangerous sexual predator". The court heard he talked one 14-year-old girl into sending him naked photos on her phone and groped another girl. The London school teacher admitted indecent assault and two abuse of trust counts. The police were alerted after one girl tried to kill herself.

7 December 04 Ex-police chief jailed over porn A former British Transport Police chief superintendent who downloaded hundreds of child pornography pictures has been jailed for four months. David Bruce, 44, of Neath Hill, Bucks, viewed indecent pictures of young girls, after drinking sessions.

9 December 04 Teacher jailed for lesbian affair A teacher who had a lesbian affair with a 15-year-old pupil at her school has been jailed for 12 months. Justine Rowe,

10 December 04 Jail for ex-Pc who raped girl A retired community policeman has been jailed for 12 years for a string of sex attacks on a schoolgirl. Pc Kevin Williams, 50, from Taffs Well, near Cardiff, visited schools as part of his job.

14 December 04 Teacher accused of sex with pupil A teacher has appeared in court accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy at her school. Shelley White, 24, of High Green in Sheffield has been charged with abusing a position of trust by causing or inciting sexual activity with the boy.

14 December 04 Hunt continues for child rapist Police are still searching for a 63-year-old paedophile who went on the run before he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years for child rape. Former teacher Benjamin Griffiths, from Aberystwyth, carried out the assault on a girl aged nine.

15 December 04 Pc guilty of abducting teen A police constable faces jail after being convicted of abducting and indecently assaulting a teenager he contacted via an internet chatroom. James Beeton, 35, who works for Cambs Police in Peterborough, was convicted on Wednesday at Luton Crown Court.

16 December 04 Teacher guilty of abusing pupils A well-respected teacher found guilty of abusing vulnerable boys betrayed their trust, a court was told. Graham Stride was found guilty of 15 charges of indecent assault involving six boys and two of attempted indecent assault involving a seventh boy.

21 December 04 Teacher filmed teenagers changing A teacher who has been found guilty of filming young girls in their underwear could be sent to prison. Richard Green, 43, of Cock Road, Kingswood, was found guilty on six counts of making an indecent photograph between September 2002 and July 2003.

20 December Pupil kiss teacher spared jail An East Sussex teacher has been spared jail after being convicted of the indecent assault of a 15-year-old girl. David Anderson, 42, of Rosemary Gardens, Burwash, was found guilty of kissing a pupil in his office and sending her e-mails and text messages.

22 December 04 Care home boss jailed over abuse The former principal of a Catholic-run care home has been jailed for 14 years for a catalogue of sex crimes against boys over a period of 20 years. James Carragher, 64, was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court of abusing boys at St William's Community Home in Market Weighton between 1969 and 1989.

23 December 04 Child expert admits abusing girl A former child psychiatrist has admitted sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Gwynedd, north Wales, after grooming her on the internet. Dr Julian Morrell, 42, was remanded in custody at Caernarfon Crown Court and is to be sentenced in the new year.

23 December 04 Ex-policeman jailed for indecency A former police officer has been jailed for pleasuring himself in front of an internet web camera while a 15-year-old girl watched on her computer. Anthony Smith, then an officer with the Metropolitan Police, was in touch with the girl for six months, a court heard.