Teacher who sexually abused student spared prison

A teacher at a boarding school in West Sussex who sexually assaulted a student and had a “dark secret” of possessing images of children being sexually abused has avoided jail.

Nick Baldock, who worked at Lancing College, near Worthing, for five years, touched a student’s bottom at an event in July 2022.

It was later discovered by police that he shared details of students in a group chat talking to other men sexually interested in children.

Baldock was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and a harm prevention order for eight years at Hove Crown Court on Thursday.

The 46-year-old previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault, two counts of publishing an obscene article, three counts of knowingly disclosing personal data without consent and three counts of making indecent images of children.

The court heard the history teacher told the group chat “every day is agony” about his position at the school and boasted about seeing students in their underwear.

He also had indecent images of children, not from the school, and shared non-indecent images of students at the college making sexualised comments about them.

Baldock shared their Snapchat details with a man on WhatsApp, inviting him to add them and communicate with them.

Defending Baldock, barrister John Hunter said he was a “troubled soul” who devoted himself to his job and had no life outside of school.

He said he was of genuine remorse and was undergoing counselling to “deal with the demons within”.

Baldock, a Catholic, held his prayer beads as he sat in the dock.

Sentencing him, Judge David Rennie added: “You are drawn to images of children being sexually abused.

"These are not victimless crimes; you are watching young people being traumatised.

“One referee refers to you holding a deep religious faith - what a strange way to show it.”

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