Teacher's career in tatters after he was found half naked on sofa after night out

A primary school teacher's life has been left in tatters after his girlfriend found him partially clothed on the sofa following a night out. Daniel Johnson was discovered with one hand on his penis and the other holding his mobile phone having fallen asleep upon returning home drunk.

When his partner became suspicious and checked the device, she stumbled across his secret collection of indecent images of children. His career has now ended in disgrace, although he walked free from court today.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday that Johnson, who previously worked at Heygarth Primary School in Eastham, Wirral, returned home from a night out on May 12 this year and was subsequently found sleeping on the sofa by his partner Emma Rogers. She discovered the 33-year-old, of Ledston Luck Villas in Kippax, near Leeds, with one hand on his exposed penis and the other holding his phone, which was displaying a video of a clothed female child.

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Helen Chenery, prosecuting, described how she then investigated his device and located a file containing three indecent images of children aged 11 and 12. One was graded as being in category A, those showing the most serious forms of abuse, while the other two were category B pictures.

When Ms Rogers confronted him after he had sobered up, Johnson said that the illegal material had been present on the phone when he acquired it second hand but confessed that he had viewed the images "on more than one occasion". She then reported him to the police on May 25.

Ms Chenary added: "At the time, the defendant was working as a school teacher. Following his arrest, he volunteered his resignation with immediate effect."

Johnson has no previous convictions. David Woods, defending, said: "The defendant's behaviour was manifested in some deep rooted problems.

"Many of the issues the defendant had could have been resolved if he had discussed them with his partner but resulted in him accessing pornography and illegal images, which is why he finds himself here. In hindsight, the defendant welcomes the involvement of the police in this matter.

"It has arrested behaviour which he regarded as concerning. His arrest and conviction have had a profound effect on him. He has lost his relationship, first of all. Inevitably, he has lost his job and, more importantly perhaps, his reputation. It was a job he was good at and in which he was respected."

Mr Woods told the court that Johnson's colleagues, a school governor and a parent of a former pupil were present in the public gallery and added: "They wish to support him rather than see him in any further difficulty. It has been a difficult time in his life. His mother is at the end of her life.

"He is extremely remorseful and he has shown by courses he has undertaken to date and the attitude he has shown that he wishes to address any issues that exist by way of rehabilitative courses and any assistance he can obtain. He is an extremely hard working, law-abiding person and he has let himself down."

Johnson admitted two counts of making indecent images of children. Appearing in the dock wearing a navy blue suit and tie with a white shirt, he was handed an 18-month community order with 70 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 35 days.

Sentencing, Judge Denis Watson KC said: "The circumstances are very far from the typical circumstances which the courts hear about relating to the possession of indecent images. Having been confronted by your then partner, you made prompt admissions to her. You are, of course, someone of good character. That being said, there is work to be done."

Johnson was also handed a five-year sexual harm prevention order and was told to sign the sex offenders' register for the same period. He replied "thank you, your honour" after learning his fate.

The ECHO previously reported that his employment at the school ended in June this year. A letter informing parents of the investigation into Johnson by Merseyside Police was then issued in October and stated that "no Heygarth child was identified" as being a victim in the case.

A Wirral Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a representative from the school was present in court. They were categorically not there in support of Mr Johnson.”