Ban for teacher who had 11,500 child abuse images

An assistant headteacher convicted of possessing more than 11,500 indecent images and videos of children has been banned from the profession.

Gareth Mellor, 45, admitted two counts of making indecent images and one count of possessing indecent photographs for which he received a two-year sentence, suspended for two years, at Leeds Crown Court in December 2023.

According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), Mellor had worked at Kettlethorpe High School in Wakefield but none of his offending, which took place between 2014 and 2021, had involved his pupils.

Following a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing last month, Mellor, formerly of Pennycroft Road, Uttoxeter, was told he would never teach again.

The panel was told Mellor had also been the designated safeguarding lead at the school and the pastoral lead for 320 students.

The NCA said he had paid for indecent images of children via an encrypted cloud storage service, leading to his arrest at his Staffordshire home in May 2021.

The images, which had not been taken by Mellor, were predominantly of teenage girls, the NCA said.

Of the footage found on his devices, 520 images and videos were Category A, 619 Category B and 10,450 Category C.

Due to the gravity, duration and volume of his offending, the TRA panel formed the view that a prohibition order was both proportionate and appropriate.

The TRA said it had not been provided with any testimonials, reflection or any other evidence from Mellor which could be regarded as mitigation.

He was subsequently banned from teaching indefinitely and will not be allowed to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.

Kettlethorpe High School has been approached for comment.

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