Former teacher pleads guilty to sex offences

A former primary school teacher has pleaded guilty to child sex offences.

53-year-old Richard Leighfield, a former teacher at Northwick Manor Primary School in Worcester, was charged with six offences relating to a child under 16.

Appearing for a first hearing at Worcester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, Leighfield admitted all the charges against him.

He is due to be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court in the new year.

All the offences took place earlier this year.

On 15 August, Leighfield attempted to engage a child aged 13-15 in a sexual act.

He also pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child between 30 May and 22 August.

One of those was images was classified as category A - the most severe, eight were category B and 10 were category C.

Leighfield admitted a further charge of possession of a prohibited image of a child during the same period, and one of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between 31 July and 22 August.

He was granted conditional bail not to contact or interfere with anyone under the age of 18, except during the course of everyday life, before he is sentenced on 17 January.

The BBC has approached the school for comment.

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