Female head teacher admits making explicit images of primary pupils

A FEMALE primary school head teacher has admitted making explicit pictures of children, as parents complain that they believed she had been on “sick leave” and even sent flowers.

Rhian Desouza, 43, appeared in court yesterday on two charges of making indecent photographs of a child in May and June of this year.

The married mother-of-two was suspended from her role as head of Gellionnen primary school in Swansea.

Desouza, of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, has been head of the Welshspeaking school for more than five years. Parents at the school, which has 187 full-time pupils, said they were “stunned and disgusted”.

Desouza was suspended in July before the end of term with parents believing she was off on sick leave.

One mother said: “We even sent her flowers on the day of the school prom because we all thought she was off ill. It is just disgusting to think what has been going on – nobody had a clue.” Some parents at the school have been sent letters stating that the police investigation is not directly connected to any children at the school. But parents are outraged that it took the authorities weeks to inform them.

Desouza was previously deputy head at Trebanos School nearby where parents were also assured no pupils were involved in the charges.

A Dyfed-powys police spokesman said that the force “carried out an investigation into a 42-year-old woman from Llanelli. As a result, Rhian Desouza was arrested on Aug 14 and charged with two counts of making indecent images of a child.” In a joint statement, the school and Swansea council, said: “We would like to reassure parents that the court proceedings do not relate to any pupil, past or present, at any school the individual has taught at.”

Desouza was given bail, and has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing on Aug 31.