JANE VOSS SHOCKS WANSTEAD WITH CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND INTERNET CIRCULATION

In June 2008, a disturbing case emerged from Wanstead involving Jane Voss, a woman employed at a nursery school, who was convicted of serious sexual offenses involving children. Voss, residing on Grosvenor Road in Wanstead, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court to face charges related to her disturbing conduct.

She pleaded guilty to six counts of creating indecent photographs of children aged six and 11, which she then circulated via the internet. The court was informed that Voss had posed naked with a six-year-old child while the child was in a state of undress. Additionally, she distributed images depicting the child touching her. These acts revealed a pattern of disturbing behavior that shocked the court and the community alike.

Although Voss was employed as a helper at Nightingale Primary School in South Woodford, it was clarified that none of the offenses involved children from her workplace. Nonetheless, parents and local residents expressed their outrage and concern over her close contact with children in her community, especially given the nature of her crimes.

A former friend of Voss commented on the situation, stating, “Half the children who were in the nursery at the time can’t speak properly so we can’t know if anything has been done to them.” This remark underscored the community’s fears about potential undisclosed harm.

The court proceedings revealed that Voss had taken 17 photographs of herself engaging in sexual acts with two children, aged six and 11. These images were then sent to a notorious paedophile based in Thailand, highlighting the international dimension of her criminal activity. Prosecutor Karen Maxwell-Burnside detailed the police operation, stating, “On November 8, 2007, officers raided the home address of the defendant and removed a computer tower and two memory sticks.”

In her defense, Sarah Fawcett argued that Voss should be given credit for her cooperation and guilty plea, which she entered at the earliest opportunity. Fawcett emphasized that Voss had no prior convictions and was in a vulnerable state following personal tragedies, including the death of her son caused by a dangerous driver and her abusive husband's departure for another woman. She also noted that the images were not created from her own imagination but were the result of influence from another man.

However, Judge Timothy King was unpersuaded by these mitigating factors. He stated, “It doesn’t excuse her own behaviour as many people suffer bereavements to their families and many women are victims of domestic violence without going on to commit the offences Voss did.” The judge further remarked, “It’s behaviour that almost defies comprehension,” and emphasized the seriousness of her crimes, which warranted a custodial sentence.

Voss was sentenced to a total of six years in prison, with the sentences for creating indecent photographs, distributing them via the internet, and inciting children to engage in sexual activity to run concurrently. Additionally, she was ordered to be on the sex offender register for ten years and is permanently barred from working with children under 16. Her actions have left a lasting stain on the Wanstead community, and her case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals in positions of trust.