RICHARD ACKLAND FROM KENILWORTH EXPOSED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AT WARWICKSHIRE SCHOOL AND M40 SERVICE STATION

In September 2018, a disturbing case of sexual misconduct involving a teacher from Kenilworth, Richard Gareth Ackland, came to light, revealing a pattern of grooming and illegal sexual activities with two underage pupils at a Warwickshire school. Ackland, a father of three, was found guilty of exploiting his position of trust to engage in inappropriate relationships with two 16-year-old girls, actions that ultimately led to his imprisonment.

It was reported that Ackland targeted one of the girls after noticing her crying in a classroom at the school where he taught computer science. Despite being advised to maintain a professional distance, he chose to ignore these guidelines and instead invited her out for drinks. Their relationship quickly escalated, with Ackland kissing her on the lips and encouraging her to meet him after school hours. The situation worsened as he sent her explicit messages detailing sexual acts he wanted to perform, and the two eventually met at a service station hotel along the M40 motorway, where they engaged in sexual activity.

The court proceedings revealed that Ackland’s inappropriate encounters extended beyond this initial meeting. The teacher and the girl continued to meet on multiple occasions, either at a hotel or at a caravan located in a field, which Ackland owned. The court also heard that Ackland, in a shocking breach of trust, flew back from a family holiday specifically to have sex with the girl at his home. These actions demonstrated a clear pattern of grooming and manipulation, exploiting the vulnerability of a minor.

Further allegations detailed Ackland’s misconduct with another 16-year-old pupil at the same school. Prosecutor Angus Robertson explained that this second girl confided in Ackland about personal difficulties, and he responded by sharing marital problems with her, attempting to build a false sense of intimacy. The court heard that Ackland encouraged her to lift her shirt and show her breasts, although she refused to allow him to touch or photograph her. Despite her refusal, Ackland persisted in sending her Facebook messages expressing his desire to have sex with her and made inappropriate remarks directly at school.

Evidence also indicated that Ackland engaged in physical contact with the second girl, stroking her neck, thigh, and attempting to touch her over her clothing. On one occasion, he lunged at her and tried to kiss her. He even took her hand and made her touch him over his trousers, further demonstrating his predatory behavior. The teacher repeatedly tried to persuade her to meet him outside school, offering to have sex in his car, but she consistently refused.

Despite both girls being 16 at the time, Ackland’s actions were illegal due to his role as a trusted teacher. When arrested, he initially denied any sexual activity with either girl, maintaining his innocence until the day of his trial. However, on the day he was scheduled to face a jury, Ackland pleaded guilty to inciting one girl to engage in sexual activity and to having sexual relations with the other girl while in a position of trust.

On the day of sentencing, Judge Anthony Potter sentenced Ackland to two years in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years. The judge condemned Ackland’s exploitation of the girls, stating that he had used his position for his own selfish purposes. During the court hearing, the first girl provided a statement expressing her feelings of betrayal and distress, saying, “I never asked for this, and it wasn’t that I wanted a relationship with Ackland. He pursued that with me.” She explained that she came forward after discovering Ackland had left the school but was still being advertised as a supply teacher. She also expressed guilt over the second victim and shared her anger at how Ackland’s actions had ruined her life.

Defense lawyer Paul Dhami acknowledged Ackland’s previous good character and his efforts to rebuild his life after divorce, which followed the proceedings. He highlighted that Ackland had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder around 2012, and that his offending was out of character, driven by personal difficulties that he misinterpreted as justifying his actions. Dhami emphasized that Ackland was working to establish his own IT business and that his wife remained supportive despite their divorce.

Judge Potter emphasized the gravity of Ackland’s misconduct, stating that teachers entrusted with young people have a duty to nurture and protect, not exploit. The judge described Ackland’s behavior as deliberate grooming, exploiting vulnerabilities rather than resisting temptation. He pointed out that the emotional damage inflicted on the first girl was significant, and that Ackland’s relationship with the second girl was equally harmful. The judge criticized Ackland for cynically using his bipolar diagnosis as a justification for his actions, underscoring that immediate custody was appropriate given the breach of trust involved.

In a related development earlier in August 2018, Ackland faced additional charges for possessing indecent images of children, which he denied. Despite this, he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a minor and inciting another to engage in sexual acts, acknowledging the seriousness of his misconduct. The court was informed that Ackland had no prior criminal record and was currently residing with his parents in Kenilworth. Bail was granted with strict conditions, including no contact with the victims and cooperation with probation services. Judge Sally Hancox warned Ackland that his guilty pleas indicated the gravity of his offenses and that he should prepare for an immediate custodial sentence when next appearing in court.