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Teacher Paul Cannon jailed for sex offences against 40 victims | |
(about 9 hours 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 was 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' | 'Terror and fear' |
Judge Glen Brasse said: "Your behaviour was every parent's nightmare. 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. | "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." | "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 ultimately identified as being responsible for offences against at least 40 victims in south London between 1999 and 2009. | |
His victims were aged between six and 13, 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. | 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. | His victims recalled he often wore sunglasses and rode a mountain bike. |
'Will never forgive him' | '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 girl with learning difficulties was approached by Cannon 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 girl's mother said she changed from being an "independent kid" to one who was "very clingy". | |
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". | 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. | "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 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 parks and swimming pool changing rooms. |