ANDREW DOUGLAS, PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER FROM GOSFORTH, SENTENCED AFTER DOWNLOAD OF 700 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In July 2014, a primary school teacher from Gosforth was sentenced after admitting to downloading nearly 700 indecent images of children onto his laptop. Andrew Douglas, now residing in Norwich but at the time living in Newcastle, was found to have possession of these images, which included some of the worst types known. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and placed under supervision.

Douglas, aged 30, who has one child and a second on the way, is required to register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years and comply with a sexual offences prevention order for five years. Newcastle Crown Court heard that Douglas confessed to having kept his 'dark secret' for five years after being discovered with the images.

Judge Guy Whitburn commented on the case, stating, 'The very concept of a primary school teacher being in possession of images such as these would send a shudder down the backs of most who send their children to primary school.'

Although no complaints had been made regarding Douglas's conduct in the classroom at his Tyneside primary school, authorities tracked his online activity, leading to his arrest.

The court was informed that Douglas has never been permitted to see his child, who was born after his arrest. His ban from working with children effectively ends his career in education.

It was also noted that the victims depicted in the images were older than the children Douglas previously taught. Caroline Goodwin, defending, presented references attesting to Douglas’s good character, stating, 'They express shock from those who know him; it is completely out of character.'