MARK FIDLER FROM HEANOR SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AT BELPER SCHOOL NEAR DERBY
| Red Rose Database
Heanor Child Sexual Abuser
In August 2019, a teacher from Derbyshire faced serious legal consequences after being convicted of engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with a teenage pupil. Mark Fidler, who had served at Belper School, was found guilty of grooming and having a sexual relationship with a minor student, leading to his imprisonment. The incident drew significant attention due to the breach of trust and the serious nature of the misconduct.
Fidler, a long-standing member of the teaching staff at Belper School, was removed from his position in December 2018 following an internal investigation. It was during this investigation that authorities uncovered evidence of his inappropriate relationship with the student. The court heard that Fidler, who was 49 years old at the time, had been working at the school since 1993 and had held the position of head of music since 2002. His conduct was described as a betrayal of the responsibilities entrusted to him as an educator.
According to court proceedings, Fidler was seen alone with the victim in his classroom, raising suspicions that prompted further investigation. The prosecution revealed that the student had sent Fidler explicit photographs, including a topless image and pictures of herself in underwear. These images were later discovered in a drawer in his office by a colleague, which contributed to the case against him. Fidler admitted to police that he and the girl had been away together and had engaged in sexual activity. He also confessed to buying her gifts such as underwear, jewelry, and clothing, further illustrating the inappropriate nature of their relationship.
During the police investigation, authorities seized Fidler’s phone and found that he had been researching online whether his actions were illegal. The victim was interviewed by police and confirmed that she and Fidler had been involved in a sexual relationship. Fidler also admitted to having sex with the girl multiple times and acknowledged that their relationship had become blurred, with the girl staying over at his home and the pair going on trips together.
Fidler’s misconduct was not limited to his interactions with the student. He was also found to possess indecent images of her, including ten photographs and three videos, which he had stored on a memory stick discovered during the investigation. He pleaded guilty to charges of sexual activity with a girl in a position of trust and possession of indecent images at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court in July.
During the sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court, the prosecution requested that the school’s name be kept confidential. However, a legal argument was made that revealing Belper School and Sixth Form Centre’s name was in the public interest. Judge Steven Coupland ultimately dismissed the request and publicly identified the school, emphasizing the importance of transparency in cases involving abuse of trust by educators.
Judge Coupland sentenced Fidler to 22 months in prison. In his remarks, the judge highlighted Fidler’s long career and his role as a head of music, stressing that he was well aware of the rules regarding sexual contact with pupils. The judge condemned Fidler for failing to maintain appropriate boundaries and for moving closer to the victim instead of distancing himself. He noted that the damage inflicted on the girl was profound and difficult to quantify, underscoring the severity of the breach of trust and the lasting impact of his actions.
Leanne Summers, representing the prosecution, stated that Fidler, of Johnson Drive, Heanor, had been employed at Belper School for over 25 years. She explained that after his dismissal, a colleague discovered a memory stick containing explicit images of the victim in his office drawers. Fidler was arrested and admitted that he and the girl had been seeing each other multiple times a week, with the girl staying over at his home and their trips together. The investigation also revealed that Fidler had searched online to determine whether his conduct was illegal, indicating awareness of the wrongdoing.
Fidler’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding students and maintaining professional boundaries within educational environments. His actions have not only led to his imprisonment but also caused significant harm to the victim, whose suffering remains a central concern in this case.
Fidler, a long-standing member of the teaching staff at Belper School, was removed from his position in December 2018 following an internal investigation. It was during this investigation that authorities uncovered evidence of his inappropriate relationship with the student. The court heard that Fidler, who was 49 years old at the time, had been working at the school since 1993 and had held the position of head of music since 2002. His conduct was described as a betrayal of the responsibilities entrusted to him as an educator.
According to court proceedings, Fidler was seen alone with the victim in his classroom, raising suspicions that prompted further investigation. The prosecution revealed that the student had sent Fidler explicit photographs, including a topless image and pictures of herself in underwear. These images were later discovered in a drawer in his office by a colleague, which contributed to the case against him. Fidler admitted to police that he and the girl had been away together and had engaged in sexual activity. He also confessed to buying her gifts such as underwear, jewelry, and clothing, further illustrating the inappropriate nature of their relationship.
During the police investigation, authorities seized Fidler’s phone and found that he had been researching online whether his actions were illegal. The victim was interviewed by police and confirmed that she and Fidler had been involved in a sexual relationship. Fidler also admitted to having sex with the girl multiple times and acknowledged that their relationship had become blurred, with the girl staying over at his home and the pair going on trips together.
Fidler’s misconduct was not limited to his interactions with the student. He was also found to possess indecent images of her, including ten photographs and three videos, which he had stored on a memory stick discovered during the investigation. He pleaded guilty to charges of sexual activity with a girl in a position of trust and possession of indecent images at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court in July.
During the sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court, the prosecution requested that the school’s name be kept confidential. However, a legal argument was made that revealing Belper School and Sixth Form Centre’s name was in the public interest. Judge Steven Coupland ultimately dismissed the request and publicly identified the school, emphasizing the importance of transparency in cases involving abuse of trust by educators.
Judge Coupland sentenced Fidler to 22 months in prison. In his remarks, the judge highlighted Fidler’s long career and his role as a head of music, stressing that he was well aware of the rules regarding sexual contact with pupils. The judge condemned Fidler for failing to maintain appropriate boundaries and for moving closer to the victim instead of distancing himself. He noted that the damage inflicted on the girl was profound and difficult to quantify, underscoring the severity of the breach of trust and the lasting impact of his actions.
Leanne Summers, representing the prosecution, stated that Fidler, of Johnson Drive, Heanor, had been employed at Belper School for over 25 years. She explained that after his dismissal, a colleague discovered a memory stick containing explicit images of the victim in his office drawers. Fidler was arrested and admitted that he and the girl had been seeing each other multiple times a week, with the girl staying over at his home and their trips together. The investigation also revealed that Fidler had searched online to determine whether his conduct was illegal, indicating awareness of the wrongdoing.
Fidler’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding students and maintaining professional boundaries within educational environments. His actions have not only led to his imprisonment but also caused significant harm to the victim, whose suffering remains a central concern in this case.