TEACHING ASSISTANT REECE GORDON BANNED AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES
A teaching assistant who was convicted of possessing more than 260 indecent images of children has been barred from ever setting foot in a classroom again.Police uncovered a Dropbox account associated to Reece Gordon who worked at Dovecot Primary School.
An IP address linked to him found he had accessed hundreds of indecent images of children.
He was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court in October last year.
Gordon was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for two years and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
A teacher regulation agency (TRA) hearing held in private last month has now ordered that he never be allowed to return to the classroom again.
A report into the hearing set out how Gordon was employed at Dovecot Primary School as a teaching assistant between September 2023 and February 2024.
He also carried out teaching work during this time.
Police received information in January 2024 while Gordon worked at the school that the Dropbox account associated with his email address had accessed 268 category A – the most severe – indecent images online.
He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court in October 2024 and was sentenced a month later, including a rehabilitation activity requirement of 60 days and an unpaid work requirement of 100 hours.
A notification was made to the TRA in May last year.
During the hearing held in private, documents said Gordon accepted he had been convicted in a signed statement of agreed facts dated April 18 this year.
He did not attend the session.
The TRA panel remarked how Gordon’s actions were relevant to teaching, working with children and working in an education setting.
They formed this view as these were criminal convictions for creating and possessing indecent images of children and it was clear that these convictions demonstrated behaviours which constituted serious and ongoing safeguarding concerns and serious risks for any children.
They found this conduct as a “large string of instances over a prolonged period of time.” This related to the making of and possession of indecent images of children of which 268 were category A.
There was no evidence that Gordon’s actions were not deliberate according to the report nor was there any evidence to suggest he was acting under extreme duress.
In a damning assessment, the panel said there had been no proof Gordon demonstrated “exceptionally high standards in his personal and professional conduct or had contributed significantly to the education sector.” The panel found no evidence of insight or remorse on the part of the former teaching assistant.
Officials said there was “every risk” the offences could be repeated “in circumstances where Gordon was permitted to continue to work as a teacher.” As a result, Gordon is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.
He will not be permitted to appeal.
