JAMES CALDERBANK FROM BLACKPOOL AND THORNTON-CLEVELEYS SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In September 2005, a disturbing case involving a teacher from the Blackpool and Thornton-Cleveleys area culminated in a prison sentence and a lifetime ban from working with children. James Stuart Calderbank, aged 58 and residing on Rossall Road in Thornton, was found guilty of possessing a significant number of indecent images of children, leading to his imprisonment and further legal consequences.

Calderbank, who served as the deputy headteacher at Claremont Primary School located in North Shore, was convicted of possessing a total of 94 indecent images on his home computer. These images included videos depicting young girls as young as eight engaging in sexual acts, some of which were of a particularly depraved nature. The police investigation also uncovered videos that ranged from provocative posing to more explicit and disturbing content.

Following his guilty plea, Calderbank was sentenced at Preston Crown Court by Judge Peter Openshaw QC, the Recorder of Preston. The judge acknowledged Calderbank’s previously good character, noting that he had been a devoted husband and father, and had led a generally decent and hardworking life. Despite this, the presence of such images on his computer revealed a terrible secret. The judge emphasized that while many images were of a lower, provocative nature, some were of a more serious and disturbing kind.

Judge Openshaw stated, “He was the deputy head of a primary school, bears a good character and has supplied letters of support and testimony from friends and former colleagues. He has been a devoted husband and father and in all other respects led a decent, honourable and hard-working life. But he had a terrible secret. Found on his home computer were a number of indecent images. Many are of the lowest level, often described as provocative posing, but there are images of a worse nature. A sentence of imprisonment will bear hard upon him and he is deeply conscious of the shame, suffering and distress he has caused to others. The public rightly condemn such behaviour and expect that sentences will reflect their outrage.”

Prosecutor Nicholas Kennedy revealed that during police interviews, Calderbank admitted to viewing such images over a period of “some” years. He claimed that most of the images were of the lowest level, and any additional content found on his computer was accidental. However, further police investigation uncovered more depraved images, confirming the severity of his actions.

Calderbank was suspended from his teaching position at Claremont Primary School in May, following the police raid on his home and the seizure of his computer. Although charges were not directly brought against him in connection with his employment, he later pleaded guilty to all 10 counts of possessing indecent images at Fleetwood Magistrates Court in July. It is noted that Calderbank has no prior criminal convictions.

Defense lawyer Kevin Talbot described Calderbank as a man who had led a constructive life, emphasizing that he had kept his illicit activities separate from his professional duties. Talbot stated, “This is a man, who at 58, has led a constructive and industrious life. He ringfenced this activity and kept it far away from his professional duties but is now a man who stands in professional ruin. He has been suspended by his employers and dismissal will be an inevitability.”

Det Sgt Andy Bunn of Fleetwood CID highlighted the broader implications of such cases, stating, “The true victims are the nameless children and young people that are used and abused throughout the world and persons who provide a market for that abuse need to be aware that the police and other international organisations are working together to make sure they are identified and brought to justice.”

In response to the case, David Lund, the director of education in Blackpool, expressed the seriousness with which such matters are treated. He assured the public that the local authorities take these issues very seriously and reiterated that any activity of this nature is never tolerated within the community.