School issues statement as perverted teacher jailed for sick messages

Former art teacher Robert Collins, 39, of Banks Road, Southport
-Credit: (Image: Merseyside police)


The school where disgraced teacher Robert Collins taught has issued a statement after he was jailed today. Collins, 39, sent pictures of his naked genitals to teenage girls and begged them for indecent photographer after targeting them online.

Collins, of Banks Road, Southport, was the head of art at Formby High School when he sent perverted messages to several young girls between August 2019 and May 2023. He appeared before Liverpool Crown Court today where he was jailed for online child sex offences.

His offending was discovered in June 2023 when Collins sent online messages to what he believed was a 12-year-old girl but was in fact an undercover police officer. On June 9, 2023, police executed a warrant at Robert Collins’ address on Banks Road and seized his phone and computer and other digital equipment. He was arrested on suspicion of online child sex offences.

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After conducting a comprehensive examination of hundreds of chat logs spanning four years, detectives discovered graphic photographs that he had sent to girls under 16, including conversations suggesting he would meet them.

Collins was jailed for two years and six months at Liverpool Crown Court today after pleading guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity, possessing indecent images of a child, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He was given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), Merseyside Police, Sefton Council, and the high school have worked together holding a number of multi-agency meetings, and the school took swift action by terminating his contract in July last year.

Alex Wood, headteacher at Formby High School, said: “We were absolutely appalled to learn of these shocking offences. While the offences are in no way connected to Mr Collins’ work at Formby High School, the severity of their nature meant he was immediately suspended from all duties following his arrest and subsequently dismissed.

“The safety and wellbeing of our students will always be our highest priority and we have robust safeguarding policies in place to ensure their protection. We have fully co-operated with the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and Merseyside Police throughout the investigation and thank them for their diligent work in bringing this individual to account.”

Read the full details of what Robert Collins did here.

NWROCU have said there are no offences connected with the school where Robert Collins was a teacher. Detective Inspector Jon Weir, from the NWROCU, said: “I would like to thank the detectives on the investigation team who have worked tirelessly to gather the evidence to bring Robert Collins to justice. I hope that some comfort can now be taken now that he is behind bars and can no longer cause any further harm to children.

“The significant sentence today is testament to our team’s commitment and dedication to get justice for the defendants’ victims. It further shows that the NWROCU, working with partners is committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm.

“We would urge any child, or young person who is a victim of sexual abuse, or anyone who knows of a child being abused, to come forward and report this to police. Call 999 if you suspect such an incident is in progress, or pass any other information via 101, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."