Teacher ‘breached trust’ over repeated child sex offences

A primary school teacher has admitted a string of sex offences against children in his classroom.

Nigel Leat, of Bloomfield Road, Bristol, pleaded guilty yesterday to 36 sexual offences during a brief hearing at Bristol Crown Court.

The 50-year-old admitted 23 charges of sexually assaulting a child under 13; eight charges of sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13; one charge of attempted rape of a child under 13; one charge of voyeurism; one charge of causing or inciting a child under 13 to commit sexual activity; and two charges of possessing child pornography.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The offences were committed at a school in North Somerset against five girls, the youngest of whom was aged six, between September 2006 and December last year.

When police arrested Leat they discovered around 30,500 indecent photographs and 720 indecent movies in his possession, including one of a child aged between seven and eight involved in an indecent act with an animal.

Leat, who had a long teaching career, will be examined by a psychiatrist in the next few weeks, the court heard.

Speaking only to confirm his name and enter his pleas, Leat, of Bloomfield Road, Bristol, was remanded in custody until sentencing on June 10.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Police said that they were first alerted to Leat on December 13 2010 after receiving information about sexual abuse against children and he was arrested that day and questioned. Leat appeared in court the following day and was remanded into custody, where he has remained since.

Superintendent Geoff Wessell, head of public protection at Avon and Somerset Police, said: “Nigel Leat was placed in a position of trust as a teacher in the North Somerset area, this trust was clearly breached when he subjected young girls in his care to repeated sexual abuse.

“For a number of years Leat believed he had got away with these crimes, crimes that will leave his victims with both emotional and mental scars.

“We would like to thank the families who have come forward to police to report this abuse.

“Their courage and support has brought this man before the courts.

“We now await sentence.”

Related topics: