School apology after running coach jailed for sex offences

A head teacher has apologised to parents after it emerged a man who ran after-school running clubs was caught in a police sex offender sting and has been jailed.

Kevin Flanagan headteacher of Pensby High School in Wirral has written to parents to reassure them that it severed ties with Mark Smith, 52, when informed of an investigation into the ex-police officer.

Mr Flanagan said Smith was employed by an outside agency to run an extra-curricular club and no pupils were affected by his crimes.

Smith was sentenced on 30 July for two years and three months.

A letter, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service was sent just before the start of the academic year to parents by Mr Flanagan apologising and saying he “felt the need to write to the school community” following Smith’s “recent arrest and sentencing.”

He said Smith, of Gorsefield Close in Bromborough, Wirral , “was not directly employed by Pensby" but was suspended and banned from the site once the school became aware of the allegations.

The head teacher said: "Clearly we were not allowed to comment on this until after sentencing had taken place".

However, Mr Flanagan said he waited longer because he did not want to write to parents until pupils had got their exam results.

"I apologise if you do not agree with the order of communication, but to my mind the children have to come first and [Smith] does not have the right to take that celebration away from them," he said.

“Once again, I am sorry that he was ever in our school."

Liverpool Crown Court previously heard how Smith had urged a police officer who was posing as a "dad” to sexually abuse his own child.

He told him: “You are on an amazing journey with your daughter”.

Smith begged the supposed father to engage in a catalogue of sex acts with the fictional 10-year-old girl and to allow him to watch on a video call.

However, he was actually being ensnared in an undercover sting.

Smith admitted two counts of encouraging a child sex offence, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempted sexual communications with a child, and distributing indecent images of children.

Mr Flanagan said the school would check on students and offer any support they needed.

The school said it regretted Smith's involvement in its extra-curricular programme and it was reviewing its safeguarding strategy.

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