Shame of ex-teacher who had library of boy images

David Hope, 65, had more than 2,000 images of boys which he had downloaded from the internet or were photographs found at his home.

Leeds Crown Court heard Hope has a fetish for boys’ underwear. Most of the illegal images found in his possession were of males between the ages of 11 and 13 wearing swimming trunks or just their underwear.

Hope, of Granby Street, Headingley, Leeds, was the subject of a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) which had been imposed by magistrates in London in 2009 at the time officers searched his home last year.

Hope has a previous conviction for sexual assault and theft of his victim’s underwear dating back to 1994.

The court heard Hope had received a letter from the Home Office in 2009 confirming he was banned from teaching.

He pleaded guilty to 21 offences relating to the possession of indecent images of male children.

Heather Weir, prosecuting, told the court that police executed the search warrant on February 13 last year and it was immediately clear to officers that he was in breach of his SOPO.

Among items found included a shoe box containing 574 photographs of children.

Other banned items found in his possession included a boys’ choir book, record sleeves bearing images of children, a poster of a boy asleep in bed and two mobile phones.

More than a thousand indecent images were also found on a laptop.

After his arrest Hope immediately admitted that the images were his and he acknowledged that they should not have been in his possession.

He admitted purchasing the laptop and downloading images in 2009 after his previous conviction.

The court heard all the illegal images were at level one – the least serious kind.

Miss Weir said: “He said he did not believe a child in swimming trunks was indecent.”

Jane Cooper, for Hope, said her client had admitted the offences at the earliest opportunity, had co-operated with police and wanted help to address his behaviour.

“These issues came to light nearly 20 years ago,” she told the court. He served a custodial sentence and has been subject to various court orders and restrictions.

“But in none of that time has there been work with him to help him challenge his behaviour.”

Ms Cooper added: “He is an articulate and intelligent man. It is very clear what his position is.

“He struggles to understand why these particular images are problematic.”

Ms Cooper said Hope had been deliberately leading a socially isolated lifestyle so he no longer has any contact with young people.

Hope was given a three-year community order which includes him taking part in a intensive programme for 60 days to address his behaviour.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years and made the subject of a new SOPO.

Judge Peter Collier QC said: “You continued to build up a library of level one images of young boys.

“It is noteworthy that you have nothing that is categorised above that level in your possession.”

“It is clear that you have had this interest in young boys for many years now but you have never been effectively challenged about it in any serious way.”