Primary teacher had 100s of child abuse pics

A PRIMARY school teacher has been sentenced after admitting possessing hundreds of child abuse pictures and videos.

Adam Ratcliffe, 26, of Water Street, Great Harwood, was a teacher at St Antony’s RC Primary, Shadsworth, Blackburn, when he was arrested on July 4 last year.

At an earlier hearing he pleaded guilty to making 78 Category A indecent images and 13 Category A videos.

He also made 10 Category B indecent images and 9 Category B videos as well as 11 Category C indecent images and 4 Category C videos.

His crimes also included possession of 143 Category A images and 215 Category A videos, 26 Category B images and 38 Category B videos and 45 Category C images and 34 videos.

Burnley Crown Court heard Ratcliffe had a ‘dark private side’ and had freely admitted he collected the material for his own sexual gratification.

He was caught out after sending a USB stick containing indecent images and videos of children through the post.

The court heard that officers investigating the case found more than 50,000 potentially illegal images and videos on his devices with only a sample of them analysed for the indictment.

Ratcliffe told police he had begun searching for the material because he was ‘in low mood’ and ‘bored’.

As part of his job, he had received safeguarding training and in statements former colleagues described him as seemingly having ‘a strong moral compass’ and being ‘very, very positive’.

Defending Ratcliffe, Philip Holden, said: “There is absolutely no suggestion of impropriety in his role at the school.

“He was suspended and later dismissed from his job and now works part time in a cafe.

“Reports from the Probation Service describe his attitude about this as refreshingly open and honest.

“There is no suggestion of any contact offences or meeting any children.”

Sentencing Ratcliffe, Recorder Guy Mathieson, said: “You present a very difficult sentencing decision.

“You have people who speak in glowing terms about you but that is the public presentation of yourself. Your private side is in stark contrast.

“You derived pleasure from material showing the most vile and degrading abuse of young children at the most serious level. You have ruined your reputation in all regards.”

Recorder Mathieson added that in this case he saw a significant prospect of rehabilitation.

Ratcliffe was sentenced to a three-year community order under which he must complete a Sex Offenders Treatment Programme and up to 20 days of rehabilitation work. He was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which restricts his use of electronic devices.

After the hearing, Heather McGowan, St Antony’s headteacher, said: “We would like to reassure our parents that there is absolutely no suggestion of any improper behaviour at the school. In line with our robust safeguarding procedures, this temporary teacher was suspended with immediate effect as soon as these crimes came to light. This member of staff had worked in school for two months, mainly with pupils who are now at high school.

“The welfare of our children is paramount to the school.”