Ban for deputy head caught with indecent images

A former deputy head teacher who was caught with indecent child images has been banned from the classroom.

Andrew Tonner was dismissed from The Meadows School in Spennymoor, County Durham, in October 2022 after he was convicted of three counts of making indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of children.

The 48-year-old was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence, a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

A Teaching Regulation Agency panel has now permanently banned him from teaching in England.

In a statement on behalf of the school, Jim Murray, Durham County Council's head of education and skills, said: "We can assure parents and carers that the misconduct hearing did not relate to the school and relevant safeguarding procedures were followed as soon as we were made aware of the allegations.

"Andrew Tonner was suspended from his employment immediately.

"He was then formally dismissed following a disciplinary hearing once criminal proceedings had ended."

Tonner was arrested in November 2021 and convicted at Newcastle Magistrates' Court the following September.

He pleaded guilty having admitted to possessing 10 category A images and 18 category A videos, four category B images, one category B video and one category C image on a personal device.

The panel said that although he had taken "some rehabilitative steps", it was not "satisfied" re-offending would not happen.

"Whilst the panel noted in the sentencing remarks that Mr Tonner had been assessed as being at a low risk of re-offending, he was also judged to be a medium risk of harm to children," a report said.

"The panel also considered the comments around the age and vulnerability of the children in the images, the fact that there were moving images in addition to still images, with one of the images showing the victim in pain and distress, and that Mr Tonner had actively sought this material out over a number of days.

"In addition, Mr Tonner was a senior leader who the police noted was also safeguarding lead for the school at the time of the offence."

The panel concluded that Tonner's behaviour "fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession".

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