Ban for teacher jailed for child abuse offences

A former teacher who was caught with more than 26,000 child abuse images and a "paedophile manual" has been banned from the profession.

Jamie Wheeler was convicted of 22 child sex offences, which included engaging in sexual activity with children.

Wheeler, 33 and formerly of Riccall in North Yorkshire, was jailed for four years and 10 months at York Crown Court in May 2023.

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) has now concluded that the case was "at the most serious end of the possible spectrum" and that Wheeler should not be allowed to teach again.

A TRA hearing held earlier this month was told Wheeler pleaded guilty to three counts of downloading indecent images of children, six counts of assaulting a child under 13 by touching and eight counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

He had also admitted two counts of taking an indecent photo of a child, two counts of meeting a child to engage in a sexual act and being in possession of a "paedophile manual".

As part of his prison sentence, Wheeler was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and was given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The TRA concluded Wheeler had breached the fundamental principles of keeping children safe in education and posed a threat to children.

The panel made a recommendation to the secretary of state that a prohibition order should be imposed.

The secretary of state said a lack of evidence of Wheeler's insight or remorse created "some risk of the repetition of his behaviour" which presented a "significant risk" to pupils.

Wheeler was banned from teaching indefinitely and will not be allowed to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

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