HUGH EVERS FROM EASTBOURNE AND HIGHGATE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Eastbourne and Highgate, Hugh Simon Evers, a former headmaster of Highgate junior school, was spared immediate imprisonment after being convicted of possessing and making indecent images of children. Evers, who once held a respected position at the private school that caters to children aged seven to eleven, saw his reputation tarnished dramatically last year when police uncovered nearly 400 disturbing images on his home computer.

The images included photographs of children as young as three and four years old, with one particularly disturbing picture depicting a seven-year-old girl. The discovery of such material led to Evers’ arrest and subsequent court proceedings. In December, he pleaded guilty at Chichester Magistrates’ Court to six counts related to the possession and creation of indecent images of children.

Following his guilty plea, Evers, aged 62, was sentenced this week to a 30-week jail term, which was suspended for 20 months. The sentencing took place at Chichester Crown Court on Monday, where Judge William Wood QC delivered a nuanced judgment. The judge expressed his belief that Evers, given his education and intelligence, was unlikely to reoffend. He acknowledged Evers’ previous good character, citing positive reports from colleagues, friends, and family, and noted his contributions to society as a parent, husband, and educator.

Judge Wood emphasized that while the images were graphic and shocking, he did not believe Evers had ever behaved inappropriately with children in his care. However, he also pointed out that the development of a sexual interest in children was a serious concern. The judge stated, “What has tragically happened is that you have developed this sexual interest in children,” and highlighted the importance of addressing the harm caused to the victims depicted in the images.

He further explained that the children in the photographs were real victims of abuse, and that the very act of downloading and viewing such images perpetuates their suffering. Despite acknowledging Evers’ otherwise good character, Judge Wood felt that a custodial sentence was necessary to reflect the gravity of his actions and to serve as a deterrent.

Hugh Evers had retired from his teaching career in 2002 after leaving Highgate. He then moved to Eastbourne, where he continued to work voluntarily at a local preparatory school. He also engaged in community service, volunteering at the Citizens Advice Bureau and serving on the BBC’s Audience Council, which oversees broadcasting standards.

His quiet retirement was abruptly disrupted in 2010 when an engineer, called to repair his computer, discovered the illicit images stored on his hard drive. The engineer reported the matter to police, leading to Evers’ arrest on February 11, 2010. During questioning, Evers claimed ignorance of the illegality of the images, asserting that they were primarily of teenage girls and describing them as “nothing but of an artistic nature.”

Investigations by Sussex police revealed that between January 2007 and April 2010, Evers had downloaded a total of 353 images classified as level one, which are considered the least serious category. However, he also stored two still images and four video clips classified as level four, just one step below the most severe category of such material. Evers, who resides on Meads Street in Eastbourne and has no prior criminal record, was sentenced to 30 weeks in prison, suspended for 20 months. His sentence included a 12-month supervision order, a ban from working with children, and registration as a sex offender. Additionally, he was ordered to pay £425 in court costs, marking a significant legal consequence for his actions.