Legal News
Former Teacher Guilty Of Possessing Indecent Images of Children (13 September 2011)
Date: 13/09/2011
A former teacher found guilty of possessing almost 9,000 indecent images of children has received a six-month jail sentence, it has bee reported last week. Terrence Ladlow from Hunmanby, North Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to making and possessing child sex abuse images. Mr. Ladlow claimed that he wished to use the images in his possession to aid his prayers for the victims of abuse. The judge failed to accept Mr. Ladlow’s claims and despite Mr. Ladlow's health and age, gave him a custodial sentence.
Mr. Ladlow’s defence solicitors described him as a pillar of the community; they claim that he had provided children with a sterling service throughout his many years as a schoolteacher. Detective Constable Nigel Pepper, representing the Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit at Scarborough, claimed that Mr. Ladlow had spent years accumulating a collection of what he described as "disturbing and depraved" images. Between 2005 and 2010, Mr. Ladlow had downloaded 8,867 images of child abuse. Detective Constable Pepper described Mr. Ladlow as “a danger to children and particularly boys”, and considered his defence to be “utter nonsense”.
Recorder, Guy Kearl QC, stated that Mr. Ladlow's actions had effectively served to contribute to the future demand for indecent images of children and that he therefore played a role in the victimisation of young children. The judge handed Mr. Ladlow an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and placed him on the sex offenders register for a total of seven years.
Duncan Lewis’ specialised Child Care Law department comprises experienced child care law solicitors. The team approaches cases with the high level of understanding only achievable through specialisation in child care law.