Teacher jailed over indecent images

A SHAW teacher who had almost 1,500 indecent images of children on his computer has been jailed for 10 months.

Grant James (53), of Rochdale Road worked at St Thomas’ Primary School for 10 years.

He admitted 16 counts of possessing indecent images of children.

James came to the attention of police when he visited a monitored website in 2012. Officers visited him at the Werneth school in September 2012 and confiscated two school computers. Tests revealed no indecent images.

James’s home was searched soon afterwards and police confiscated a computer which was found to have 1,489 indecent images. They also found cannabis. Almost 300 of the pictures were graded level four or five, the highest level of police concern. James was arrested on Valentine’s day 2013 and charged in November.

Elaha Akhgar, defending, said “Before this he had no previous charges and was considered of good character. But his achievements will always be viewed with cynicism due to the nature of these images.”

Sentencing James at Manchester Crown Court, Judge Lowcock said: “You were in a position of trust and responsibility and the parents of pupils at the school will be utterly horrified.”