Deputy head avoids jail over indecent assault of boy in 1980s and child porn

Michael Page, 54, the deputy head at Tweendykes Special School in Hull, became a “father figure” to the youngster. He indecently assaulted him while he was a church choirmaster in the 1980s.

The victim, now 40, finally decided to tell his family and the authorities of the abuse because he wanted Page removed from teaching.

When he was arrested, police found more than 800 images of child porn on his computer, some of the most serious level and featuring children as young as eight or nine.

Page only avoided custody after his victim told police he would prefer Page to receive counselling.

Sentencing at Hull Crown Court, Judge John Dowse said Page had abused the youngster’s innocence.

“He trusted you implicitly. You became something of a father figure, but behind it all was your desire to be more familiar with him. Over a period of time you effectively groomed him because as time went on your appalling behaviour worsened,” he said.

“As for your viewing of indecent images, the constant use of these sites fuels the exploitation of children.”

Prosecuting, Richard Woolfall said Page was a church choirmaster in Willerby in the 1980s.

He was teaching at the time, but did not teach the complainant.

Mr Woolfall said the boy looked up to him and would regularly attend Page’s home ostensibly to watch TV, eat junk food and wear clothes his parents would not allow him to wear.

He said: “For the boy this was purely friendship, but almost every time the defendant would show him increasing affection. The defendant would say ‘sorry, I’m confused’ and step away before continuing similar behaviour a few days later.”

The offending ended when he was a teenager and told Page he was going to a party to meet girls.

Mitigating, Anil Murray said bachelor Page was now bankrupt after the loss of his teaching job.

He admitted two counts of indecent assault between March 1984 and April 1986, six of making indecent photographs of a child and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

He was given a three-year community order with supervision and ordered to complete a sexual offender’s rehabilitation course. Page was also disqualified indefinitely from having any unsupervised contact with children.