MARK HANNAH FROM BIRCHINGTON JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING TEENAGE STUDENT IN LANCASHIRE

In March 2019, a disturbing case emerged involving Mark Hannah, a 41-year-old deputy housemaster at a private boarding school in Lancashire, who was convicted of serious sexual misconduct involving a minor. Hannah, who was also a geography and geology teacher, engaged in a series of inappropriate communications with a 15-year-old girl, which ultimately led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing.

Hannah's misconduct came to light after the girl, a student at the school, shared some of their private messages with a friend. This action prompted the friend’s mother to become aware of the inappropriate exchanges and to contact the girl’s parents. The parents then confronted Hannah at the school, leading to his arrest in October 2017.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Hannah had been exchanging messages with the girl over Instagram during a period spanning September to October of the previous year. In these messages, Hannah repeatedly made inappropriate comments, complimenting her appearance and expressing a desire to meet outside school. He told her she looked 'beautiful' and shared his wish to take her out for meals and walks, indicating a growing emotional attachment.

Hannah’s messages took a more disturbing turn when he expressed a desire to take a bath with her, tie her up with ribbon, and digitally penetrate her. On one occasion, he secretly drew a love heart on a piece of paper during a lesson, inscribing the letter 'U' inside it, and handed it to her, further demonstrating his inappropriate intentions.

In addition to the online exchanges, Hannah’s past was scrutinized, revealing that he had previously dated a 17-year-old girl when he was 33. During that relationship, he took indecent photographs of her, which added to the severity of his misconduct.

Hannah was charged with inciting a girl under 16 into sexual activity and making indecent images. He pleaded guilty to these charges at Preston Crown Court. The court heard that the defendant blamed his actions on working long hours with no recognition, but the judge was clear that his behavior had severely undermined trust in the teaching profession.

Prosecutor Paul Cummings detailed the case, emphasizing that the victim was a 15-year-old pupil at the school where Hannah taught. The contact began when she emailed about joining the after-school basketball club, which Hannah managed. Their communication escalated from email exchanges to private messages on Instagram, where inappropriate comments and propositions were made.

Hannah’s inappropriate comments included asking to give her chocolate, complimenting her appearance, and expressing his desire to take her out for meals and walks. The most disturbing messages involved him asking to take a bath with her, tie her up with ribbon, and digitally penetrate her. He also commented on her belly, further crossing boundaries.

The victim’s mother expressed her concern in a statement, recounting her daughter’s discomfort and the impact of Hannah’s grooming. She described how her daughter had initially contacted him to join basketball classes, but the conversation quickly turned inappropriate. The mother’s intervention and the subsequent police investigation led to Hannah’s arrest.

During the court proceedings, Judge Nicholas Barker sentenced Hannah to 36 weeks in prison. The judge emphasized that Hannah, as a teacher, was in a position of trust and responsibility, and his breach of that trust had far-reaching consequences. The judge also ordered Hannah to sign the Sex Offender Register for five years and to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Barker highlighted the seriousness of the offense, noting that Hannah’s actions had damaged not only the victim but also the reputation of the teaching profession and the trust placed in educators. The judge acknowledged Hannah’s remorse but stressed that his conduct was at the higher end of the severity spectrum, given the age disparity, the setting of the school, and the deliberate nature of his actions.