Child porn teacher discovered by US officer in chatroom

An officer in Texas investigating a man there, discovered he was having conversations with others online about the sexual abuse of young children.

One of those involved in the chatroom was a person calling themselves Wendy who when traced turned out to be John Hardcastle.

Police officers then visited his home in Palmers Avenue, South Elmsall near Pontefract and seized his computer, hard drive, and a second back-up hard drive.

Tony Kelbrick, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday when they were examined the officers found about 12 indecent images of children posing in a variety of positions, they were at level one, the lowest in a range from one to five. One video of extreme pornography featuring a woman and a horse was also seized, he said.

Hardcastle had worked as a teacher at Primrose High School in Burmantofts, Leeds. None of the images involved children there.

Andrew Walker representing him said the images had been sent unrequested from the man in America and remained through a computer malfunction.

Hardcastle, 52, admitted three offences of making indecent images and one of possessing extreme pornography. He was given a three-year community order with supervision and ordered to participate in a high level activity involving attending a sex offender treatment programme. He must also register as a sex offender for five years and will be barred from working with children.

Nigel Richardson, Leeds City Council’s director for children’s services said: “As soon as the school were aware of the allegation, the teacher in question was suspended. He subsequently resigned from his post at the school.

“The school followed safeguarding procedures and is working closely with the local authority to ensure all children are safe and supported and that all safeguarding measures are in place.”