KEITH SIMMONS

FORMER DEPUTY HEAD TEACHER JAILED FOR CHILD IMAGE OFFENSES

A former deputy head teacher in Cornwall who helped steer a school out of its Ofsted troubles downloaded images of children as young as two being raped because he felt "without purpose after taking early retirement".

He was caught after police received information of his illegal activities online and knocked on his door at his home in West Looe in February 2024.

They seized various electronic devices and found 64 category A indecent images of children, 105 category B, and 190 category C, along with the Tor browser used to access the dark web.

Simmons, 68, was interviewed but denied all knowledge even after his devices were examined.

He eventually admitted charges related to the downloading and making of indecent images of children.

The judge sentenced him to eight months in prison suspended for 12 months, with 15 days of rehabilitation activity, a 7pm-7am curfew for three months, and registration as a sex offender.

In mitigation, Ryan Murray noted Simmons had previously served his community well and was a man of good character, his fall from grace came after early retirement and personal grief, including the death of his mother.