A pervert teacher who was caught performing a webcam sex act for an undercover cop he thought was a child has been banned from the classroom for life. Adam Barton, 50, was snared by officers after using an online chatroom to send explicit images to a person he believed to be a teenage girl, before video calling her and playing with himself on screen.
Unbeknownst to Barton - who at the time was a teacher at Brookside Primary School, in High Lane, Stockport - he was actually talking to a police officer, not a young girl. In November 2021 he was convicted of two sexual offences, including causing a child between 13 and 15 years of age to watch/look at an image of sexual activity and attempting/engaging in sexual communication with a child.
He was handed a 24 month suspended prison sentence and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years. Now the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) has banned him from the classroom indefinitely after considering his vile offences.
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A professional conduct panel heard that, in a statement of agreed facts, Mr Barton admitted that on 17 October 2020 he sent messages to a female in an online chat room. A report reads: “Mr Barton sent the female a picture of an erect penis and asked her if she liked it before sending another picture of an erect penis.
"Mr Barton then messaged the female to say that his fantasy was to strip and masturbate for a stranger and he asked her if she wanted to watch. He then video called the female with his hand down his trousers playing with his penis.
"During a video call with the female he pulled his erect penis from his trousers and began masturbating. He pleaded guilty to both of the offences with which he was charged and was subsequently convicted.”
The panel noted that the offences committed by Barton were particularly serious. He had sought to act out a fantasy ‘with it only a matter of good fortune that the individual with whom he was engaging was an investigating officer'.
“Mr Barton continued with his actions, despite being informed that the person was [REDACTED], regardless of the emotional and psychological harm that could be caused to such a child,” the report adds.
Barton was said to have recognised that he treated the victim of his behaviour without compassion or empathy, that he objectified her and used her for his own sexual gratification. According to the report he remains 'particularly disgusted with himself for using a particular app because of obvious association with users who would sexually harm children'.
Barton also provided a witness statement expressing his remorse for his actions and is said to have demonstrated ‘an understanding as to how his actions towards a child could affect them emotionally and psychologically and impact on them in their future life’. However the panel found that Barton’s actions were deliberate and premeditated and there was no evidence to suggest that he was acting under extreme duress.
No representations were made in respect of Barton's character or teaching proficiency. “There is no evidence that Mr Barton has demonstrated exceptionally high standards in his personal and professional conduct or that he has contributed significantly to the education sector,” the report notes.
The panel found that, although Barton had provided an account of the steps he has taken to rehabilitate himself, no independent evidence was presented as to their success. Barton was banned from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England.
Due to the seriousness of his offences, he is not entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach. He has a right of appeal to the King’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days from the date he is given notice of the prohibition order.
Brookside Primary School was not able to offer a comment before our deadline.
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