NEIL SALISBURY, WARRINGTON GYM TEACHER, SENTENCED FOR MOLESTATION OF SCHOOLGIRLS

In August 2006, Neil Salisbury, a 52-year-old physical education teacher from Warrington, was sentenced to imprisonment for molesting two young schoolgirls during lessons. Salisbury, a married father of two with three decades of teaching experience, was arrested after reports emerged that he had touched one girl on the bottom and another on her leg. Known as a respected gymnastics coach, Salisbury was also accused of watching students closely while they changed for games classes.

A female classroom assistant witnessed one incident and testified before the jury, stating, "I don’t think he could help himself – he was gazing at them in a lustful way and my eyes were fixed on his lustful hands." Investigations revealed that Salisbury had previously been cautioned by his headteacher regarding his inappropriate "close contact" with pupils, but he failed to heed this warning.

At Chester Crown Court, Salisbury’s wife of 28 years watched from the public gallery as Judge Roger Dutton sentenced him to 12 months in prison. Additionally, Salisbury was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and received a ban from working with children. The offenses took place between June 2004 and June 2005.

The judge emphasized the seriousness of the breach, saying, "The vocation of teaching is one highly regarded by members of the public. With respect and admiration, society holds a thorough expectation of teaching that children will be nurtured, looked after, and cared for, and will be safe in their teachers’ care. When that expectation is abused, it is extremely serious breach of trust. No one expects interference with a child in school by their own teacher."

Court proceedings detailed how Salisbury, of Malpas Drive, Great Sankey, Warrington, derived a "kick out of petting" young girls. The first victim was assaulted in front of a classroom assistant. The second girl was molested when she approached to show him her work.

Following a two-week trial, Salisbury was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and acquitted of one, with five other charges left on file. Evidence was given by five different girls.

During mitigation, defense lawyer Miss Teresa Loftus remarked, "Although the offenses are serious and involve breaches of trust, they are at the lowest end of the spectrum. He recognizes he should have listened to the headmaster."

Salisbury was dismissed from his position after his conviction. Outside the court, a parent of one of the victims commented, "He has stolen the innocence from those children."