Former associate high school head used class A drugs while watching online child sex abuse is jailed.

Former Associate Head Teacher Jailed for Child Abuse Images and Drug Possession

A former associate head teacher has been sentenced to prison after admitting to possessing over 2,000 indecent images of children and possessing class A drugs. Paul Newbury, 50, from Wood Green, London, was sentenced to two years and four months at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, May 23.

In October 2017, Newbury was found to be in an online video conferencing room where the live sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl was being broadcast. He was using the username "north London," which National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators linked to his home address.

NCA officers arrested Newbury in February 2018, at which time he was employed at Acland Burghley School in Camden, London. A search of his home revealed 717 milligrams of cocaine.

Newbury confessed to possessing class A drugs for personal use, which he used while participating in the video conferencing platform. He also admitted to making, possessing, and distributing indecent images of children.

A thorough examination of his digital devices uncovered over 2,000 child sexual abuse images and videos, ranging in severity from category A (the most severe) to category C.

There is no evidence suggesting Newbury had any sexual contact with children, nor is there evidence linking his offenses to his previous employment at the school. He was dismissed from his position on March 7, 2018.

At a hearing in March, Newbury pleaded guilty to four counts of making indecent images of children, one count of distributing indecent photographs of children, two counts of possessing class A drugs, possession of a prohibited image, showing an indecent photograph of a child, and possession of an extreme pornographic image.

Graham Ellis, NCA operations manager, stated: "Newbury and men like him who make and distribute horrific images of children are fuelling online child sexual abuse. The NCA knows that the scale and severity of this offending against children is worsening. Newbury was present when the live abuse of a 10-year-old girl was committed. Though his offending was not connected to his school, he is guilty of a tremendous betrayal of trust. The NCA and our law enforcement partners will not stop pursuing these offenders and will do everything in our power to bring them to justice."