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Teacher jailed for historical sex offences against 40 victims | Teacher jailed for historical sex offences against 40 victims |
(34 minutes later) | |
A former primary school teacher has been jailed for historical sex offences against 40 child victims over a decade. | A former primary school teacher has been jailed for historical sex offences against 40 child victims over a decade. |
Paul Cannon, 40, of Coulsdon, south London, was charged in January after a woman came forward to report an offence that took place 13 years ago. | Paul Cannon, 40, of Coulsdon, south London, was charged in January after a woman came forward to report an offence that took place 13 years ago. |
Cannon admitted to 51 offences, ranging from exposing himself, making indecent images to sexually assaulting victims. Only one of his victims was a pupil. | Cannon admitted to 51 offences, ranging from exposing himself, making indecent images to sexually assaulting victims. Only one of his victims was a pupil. |
He has been jailed for four years at Croydon Crown Court. | He has been jailed for four years at Croydon Crown Court. |
Cannon worked as a full-time teacher, and from 2006 as a supply teacher, at various primary schools in Surrey and Sussex. | Cannon worked as a full-time teacher, and from 2006 as a supply teacher, at various primary schools in Surrey and Sussex. |
'Terror and fear' | |
Judge Glen Brasse said: "Your behaviour was every parents' nightmare," he said. "That their child goes out and he/she might be sexually assaulted. | Judge Glen Brasse said: "Your behaviour was every parents' nightmare," he said. "That their child goes out and he/she might be sexually assaulted. |
"The harm to the children was all too easy to imagine - they must have felt terror and fear. | |
"You targeted a very young age group of children - as young as six years old. This was very serious predatory behaviour." | |
In 2012, the victim came forward prompted by the publicity around Jimmy Savile's victims. | In 2012, the victim came forward prompted by the publicity around Jimmy Savile's victims. |
The 24-year-old woman reported that a man called "Paul" took indecent photos of her 13 years previously. | The 24-year-old woman reported that a man called "Paul" took indecent photos of her 13 years previously. |
Cannon was identified as being responsible for the offences against at least 40 victims in south London between 1999 and 2009. | Cannon was identified as being responsible for the offences against at least 40 victims in south London between 1999 and 2009. |
Victims were aged between six and 13 years old, both girls and boys. | Victims were aged between six and 13 years old, both girls and boys. |
With the exception of one, all his other victims were randomly chosen in parks and other open spaces in the Sutton, Carshalton and Merton areas, during school holidays or weekends. | |
His victims recalled he often wore sunglasses and rode a mountain bike. | |
'Will never forgive him' | |
His youngest victim was a six-year-old girl whom he took pictures of in her underwear, while an eight-year-old with learning difficulties changed after he approached her from behind while she was out walking her dog, the court heard. | |
In a victim impact statement read out to the court by prosecutor Anthony Heaton-Armstrong, the eight-year-old's mother said she changed from being an "independent kid" to one who was "very clingy" and changed her route to school. | |
In another statement, a woman who was attacked in 2001 at the age of nine, said she feels "worried, frightened and unhappy - I have good days and bad days". | |
"I will never forgive him for what he put me through and what he still puts me through now," she added. | |
The Metropolitan Police investigated and eventually arrested Cannon at his home address in Coulsdon in March 2013. His DNA was matched with the National DNA database from previous victim reports. | The Metropolitan Police investigated and eventually arrested Cannon at his home address in Coulsdon in March 2013. His DNA was matched with the National DNA database from previous victim reports. |
Officers found more than 4,000 indecent photos and videos of children, ranging from level 1 to 5, stored on his computer. | Officers found more than 4,000 indecent photos and videos of children, ranging from level 1 to 5, stored on his computer. |
Further images were also found by police of children in park areas and swimming pool changing rooms. | Further images were also found by police of children in park areas and swimming pool changing rooms. |