CHRISTOPHER BAILEY CAUGHT VIEWING INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN IN PURTON AND WANTAGE

In January 2015, a teacher from Wantage faced serious allegations after being found to have accessed indecent images of children through the popular blogging platform Tumblr. Christopher Bailey, aged 37 and a resident of Hampden Road in Wantage, was involved in a case that drew significant attention from local authorities and the judicial system.

Bailey, who was employed as a teacher at Bradon Forest School located near Purton, was discovered to have used the internet to search for and view explicit images involving minors. The police investigation was initiated after a complaint was received from his school, prompting a search of his personal computer. During the search, authorities uncovered a total of 95 indecent images stored on Bailey’s device.

Bailey admitted to the police that he had come across these images while conducting what he described as “naturist” searches on Tumblr. He claimed that the images appeared among many others and insisted that he never intentionally sought out or viewed them. However, the court was skeptical of his claims, with the judge in Oxford Crown Court expressing doubt about Bailey’s account. The presiding judge, Peter Ross, stated that he found it “hard to believe” that Bailey had not knowingly viewed the images.

Prosecutor Nigel Ogborne explained that the police investigation also involved a separate matter related to a “particular toilet,” but this issue was not pursued further in court. The focus remained on the possession of the indecent images and Bailey’s use of the internet. As part of the proceedings, the court considered imposing restrictions on Bailey’s future internet use, including a sexual offences prevention order that would prohibit him from accessing Tumblr or any other online platform without a record of sites visited.

Bailey’s defense, represented by Jenny McVeigh, argued that he would no longer be able to work as a teacher and maintained that he was not consciously aware of viewing the images. She emphasized that Bailey did not accept having knowingly seen the images, suggesting that they were part of a larger collection of images that appeared during his searches.

Judge Peter Ross ultimately decided to impose a six-year order restricting Bailey’s internet activity, following the recommendation of the Probation Service. The court also ordered a community sentence that includes supervision and participation in a sex offenders’ program focused on internet safety. The judge warned Bailey that any breach of these conditions or any further offending would result in a prison sentence.

Addressing Bailey directly, Judge Ross highlighted the risks associated with his profession, noting that as a secondary school teacher, he was well aware of the dangers and the nature of sites like Tumblr, which are often used to access pornographic material. The court’s decision underscored the seriousness of the offense and the importance of safeguarding children from exploitation and abuse.