DEAN HAYES FORMER BOLTON HEADTEACHER'S BOOKS PULPED AFTER PAEDOPHILE DISCOVERY

In December 2009, books authored by Dean Hayes, a disgraced former headteacher from Bolton, are being actively removed from circulation following his exposure as a paedophile.

Dean Hayes, aged 59, who transitioned from education to writing, is currently serving a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence for indecency with children. Earlier this year, details of his criminal past were revealed, prompting Bolton Wanderers Football Club to cease stocking all of Hayes’s books related to the club, including his most recent publication, Bolton Wanderers On This Day, released earlier in the year.

In response, Hayes’s publisher, Pitch Publishing, has committed to withdrawing his titles from sale and donating any royalties owed to charity. A spokesman for the West Sussex-based publisher explained to The Bolton News, "This news came as a shock, as it did to those retailers stocking the book. We would like to thank The Bolton News and Bolton Wanderers FC for alerting us, and having been made aware of Dean Hayes’ appalling criminal actions, we have asked all stockists to return all copies they hold of the book."

The publisher further stated, "We will be pulping the remaining stock we hold of both titles. Additionally, we have terminated our contract with Mr. Hayes, and we will be withholding any royalties due to him. Instead, these will be donated to a local Bolton charity."

Following the revelations, major retailers including Waterstones, HMV, and WH Smith have withdrawn Hayes’s books from their shelves after The Bolton News informed them of his criminal background.

At Waterstones, his books were displayed under a local history section entitled “Bolton’s Favourite Sons,” positioned near the store’s “True Crime” section. Hayes, who has authored over 100 sports-related books covering football and cricket — including histories of Bolton Wanderers, Manchester United, Everton, Aston Villa, and Wigan — now risks having his entire catalog blacklisted by booksellers.

A Waterstones spokesperson stated, "We are reviewing how many books we have by Hayes across our entire estate and are speaking to his publisher. We are in the process of removing them from any promotion whatsoever."

Hayes, once a headmaster, was jailed last month after pleading guilty to five counts of indecent assault on children and three counts of indecency with a child. His teaching career included positions at Brandwood Junior School in Daubhill and as deputy headteacher at Bishop Bridgeman Primary School in Bolton, before serving as headteacher at Brindle St James’ CE Primary in Chorley from 1987 to 1995.

Originally from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Hayes admitted to abusing two young girls between January 1991 and December 1996, and also pleaded guilty to possessing 25 indecent images of children. The abuse was prolonged and occurred over several years, as detailed during his court hearing at Preston Crown Court last month.