Primary school teacher possessed indecent images of children.

Former Teacher Jailed for Inciting Child Abuse

A 27-year-old former teacher, Nicholas Taylor, has been sentenced to six years in prison for inciting children to send him indecent images of themselves via social media. Taylor, of Barnet, pleaded guilty to a series of internet-related offenses at St Albans court on Wednesday, March 22.

The investigation, led by Hertfordshire Constabulary's Joint Child Protection & Investigation Team, revealed that between October 2014 and October 2015, while working as a teacher, Taylor used the alias Jackson_Law2002 on Instagram to contact children in a chat group. After befriending them, he would bully and manipulate them into sending him indecent images.

The victims, aged 10 to 15, attended the same school or were involved in a Girl Guiding group in London. Police identified all of the children involved and provided support to each victim and their families.

Detective Inspector Chris Treadwell stated: "This was a long and complex investigation involving the examination of over 30 devices owned by Nicholas Taylor. Taylor went online to contact children for his own sexual gratification. He deceived his colleagues, fellow volunteers, and the victims by using a false identity to bully and manipulate them."

Taylor pleaded guilty to six counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of making indecent photographs of a child, and one count of distributing indecent photographs of a child. He was sentenced to six years in prison by a judge at St Albans Magistrates Court.

Hertfordshire Constabulary's website provides advice for children and young people on online safety.