MARK WALSH, FARNWORTH TEACHER, SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AND THEFT IN OCTOBER 2006

In October 2006, Mark Walsh, a 29-year-old PE and geography teacher from Farnworth, was sentenced to 14 months in prison after being convicted of sending sexually explicit Christmas cards to female pupils and committing theft.

Walsh created and mailed adult-themed messages during the early hours of Christmas Day, which included promises such as telling one girl he would give her “the time of your life” if she asked him for sex, Bolton Crown Court was told. His handwriting was eventually linked to the cards when it was recognized from a school report. When police searched his home, they discovered 82 items of schoolgirls’ clothing stolen from changing rooms.

The court heard that Walsh had developed a sexual obsession with teenage students. He kept a diary on his home computer, where he detailed their attractiveness and ranked them in what was described as a “fantasy league.”

Walsh pleaded guilty to three counts of abusing his position of trust by inciting a child to engage in sexual activity—covering three girls aged 14 and 15. Four similar counts were ordered to remain on file, and he admitted to eight counts of theft related to clothing, with ten additional thefts considered during sentencing.

Judge William Morris remarked, “There is abundant evidence that you became sexually obsessed with the girls you were then teaching.”

Nicola Gatto, prosecuting, noted that Walsh, who taught PE and geography, had become known among pupils as “Paedo Walsh.” It was also revealed that he had previously been suspended from the school for making “inappropriate” comments to a girl. Additionally, Walsh was known for insisting that girls wear skirts instead of tracksuit bottoms during PE classes.

The court imposed a lifelong ban on him working with children, ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years, and placed him on a five-year licence upon his release.