Ex-teacher at school banned for indecent child images

A FORMER teacher at a top Midland school has been banned from the profession for possessing paedophilic images.

Nicholas Jones, who worked at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield, was handed the prohibition order following a Teacher Regulation Agency hearing. It was told Jones received an eight month suspended prison sentence at Birmingham Crown Court in 2020 after being convicted of three counts of making indecent photograph/pseudophotograph of a child.

The 27-year-old was also ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

The offences did not relate to his tenure at the school or any pupils he taught.

In his Regulation Agency report, decision maker Alan Meyrck stated: “Mr Jones’ conduct was wholly at odds with the standards and behaviour expected of any member of the public, let alone a teacher who is placed in the privileged position of trust with children.”

Jones was employed by the school in September 2018, and arrested 11 months later. He was convicted at Solihull Magistrates Court and sentenced at Crown Court.

Mr Meyrick stressed: “The panel noted that the offences had taken place outside of the school setting and had not involved pupils of the school where Mr Jones worked.

“The panel was aware that an offence can be considered relevant even if it did not involve misconduct in the course of teaching.

The panel concluded that Mr Jones’ criminal conduct, making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, was relevant to teaching, working with children and/or working in an education setting.

Mr Jones’ offences were grave and extremely serious.

The panel noted that the behaviour involved in committing the offences could have had an impact on the safety or security of pupils and/or members of the public.

He added: “The panel accepted that Mr Jones had shown some insight and remorse into his behaviour. However, the panel were concerned that the pre-sentence report referred to Mr Jones being a ‘medium risk of committing further sexual offences’ and that there was no evidence presented to them to suggest that this risk had reduced.”

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar, founded in 1527, is one of the oldest school’s in the country. Notable former pupils include TV presenter Cat Deeley, and rugby star Peter Robbins.