A former Newcastle private school teacher has been struck off after he was found to have produced child sex images.
Robert Johnson, 43, of The Wynd, Kenton, taught at Dame Allan's Primary School in Spital Tongues for a decade. He was snared after attending a voluntary interview with Northumbria Police on June 2 2020 in respect of indecent images of children on his computer.
Johnson was subsequently charged by the police and on November 10 2021, pleaded guilty at North Northumbria Magistrates Court of five counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo photographs (an image made by computer-graphics or otherwise which appears to be a photograph) of children between 2009 and 2020.
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He was subsequently sentenced for 12 months' imprisonment (suspended for 24 months), a rehabilitation activity requirement of 40 days and an unpaid work requirement of 200 hours, given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and must sign the sex offender register until 2031.
And now, a professional conduct panel meeting by the Department of Education has prohibited him from teaching in any school indefinitely. The report found that Johnson "had been convicted of creating indecent images of children, during a period of over a decade, and it was clear to the panel that such behaviour was manifestly incompatible with him currently being a teacher."
The panel made a recommendation to the Secretary of State that Johnson should be subject to a prohibition order, with no provision for a review period. The panel also made the recommendation that the prohibition would be effective immediately.
This means that Johnson is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, Mr Robert Johnson will not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.
Responding to the Teaching Regulation Agency Professional Conduct Panel report on former teacher Robert (Joseph) Johnson, Dame Allan’s Schools issued the following statement: "Robert (Joseph) Johnson was a teacher at Dame Allan’s Schools from September 1 2010 until June 2020. He resigned immediately following his arrest and never returned to the schools.
"The schools were not involved in the investigation against Johnson and his illegal activity did not take place on school premises or involve pupils from Dame Allan’s. Our robust safeguarding procedures were followed at all times."
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