Wimbledon teacher banned from the classroom for making indecent photos of children

A teacher from a Wimbledon primary school has been banned from the classroom for life after he was convicted of making indecent photos of children. Daniel Jones, 37, was convicted of three counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of children in November 2023 after he was charged in 2021. The children involved were not pupils at the school.

Mr Jones was first employed by Pelham Primary School in Wimbledon on September 1, 2018. Three years later, the Met Police seized Mr Jones' electronic devices on October 27, 2021, to forensically examined them. Four days later Mr Jones was arrested following the discovery of indecent images of children on his laptop on November 1.

He was immediately suspended upon his arrest by the school, head teacher Emma Greer said. The case was also referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), which carries out misconduct hearings, that same day.

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Mr Jones resigned from his position at the school on January 7, 2022. He pleaded guilty to charges levelled against him and was convicted at Southwark Crown Court on November 23, 2023. For the three counts against him, he was sentenced as follows:

• 8 months suspended imprisonment, suspended for 21 months, drug rehabilitation for 12 months, 80 hours of unpaid work, sex offenders notice for 10 years, sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and to pay a victim surcharge of £156.20

• 6 months suspended imprisonment, suspended for 21 months, rehabilitation for 30 days, 80 hours of unpaid work, sex offenders notice for 10 years, sexual harm prevention order for 10 years

• 4 months suspended imprisonment, suspended for 21 months, rehabilitation for 30 days, 80 hours of unpaid work, sex offenders notice for 10 years, sexual harm prevention order for 10 years

Before his hearing, Mr Jones admitted this to the teacher misconduct panel which gave him a lifelong prohibition order for the offences.

The offences had taken place outside of the education setting, according to the panel's report and the school's statement. Despite this, "they were still relevant to Mr Jones’ position as a teacher in that indecent images of children were found on his devices," the report read. It added these crimes "could have had an impact on the safety and security of pupils and/or members of the public."

It continued: "The panel noted that Mr Jones’ behaviour ultimately led to a sentence of imprisonment (albeit that it was suspended), which was indicative of the seriousness of the offences committed."

When considering mitigating factors for their decision, the panel noted that there was no evidence that Mr Jones’ actions were not deliberate or that he was acting under extreme duress. Mr Jones reportedly stated he was "overwhelmed with guilt" and "acknowledges the harm he has caused others and the profession."

What did his former school say?

The head teacher of Pelham Primary School, Emma Greer, sent a statement to MyLondon in the wake of the teacher misconduct outcome report being published yesterday (Tuesday, November 12). She said: "Daniel Jones’ crimes are abhorrent, and we think of all victims of these appalling abuses. However, we would like to stress that no child from Pelham Primary School was involved, and none of the offences took place in the school - nor in any other educational setting.

"The safeguarding of our children is absolutely paramount. Daniel Jones was immediately suspended from school upon his arrest. And concurrently to the police investigation, the school carried out its own internal disciplinary proceedings, and asked the local authority to carry out a full safeguarding audit. The local authority found the safeguarding practices of the school to be totally robust."

Pelham School fully supports the outcome of the Teaching Regulation Authority which prevents Daniel Jones from ever teaching again.”

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