Paedophile teacher could be freed from prison next month

A PRIMARY school teacher who filmed himself sexually abusing his pupils could be freed from jail within a month.

Described as a “predatory paedophile”, Nigel Leat captured on camera the attacks he carried out on five young girls over the course of five years at Hillside First School in Weston- superMare, Somerset.

Leat, who is now in his 60s and is also known by the surname Russell, was jailed indefinitely in 2011 after admitting 36 offences including attempted rape of a child and sexual assault.

Papers detailing the Parole Board decision said: “After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the other evidence presented at the hearings, the panel was satisfied that Mr Leat was suitable for release when accommodation becomes available in November 2020.”

Leat used to identify “star pupils” and shower them with gifts before abusing them in onetoone reading sessions at the school.

The father- of- two would then molestgirlsasyoungassixasthey practised their reading aloud in class and get them to perform sex acts on him at the same time.

Leat could be heard in the films referring to the girls as “sweetie pie” and “darling” and asking them how much they loved him.

When he was arrested by police, officers found more than 30,000 indecent photographs and over 700 movies in his possession.

According to the Parole Board, Leat’s release is subject to licence conditions which involve “strict limitations” on his contacts, movements and activities.