Teacher Brian Saunders Jailed For Downloading Child Abuse Images

Teacher At Leading School Jailed For Downloading Child Abuse Images

A teacher at a leading independent school has been jailed for downloading sexual images of children.

Brian Saunders was turned into police by his wife after she found files on his computer titled "nude Japanese boys", "schoolboys' sexual abuse" and "boy porn".

Saunders, a father of two from Poole, had been a guardian for two teenage Japanese boys, as well as being chairman of the Poole link of Chernobyl Children's Life Line, the Bournemouth Echo reported.

Police found 221 indecent images on his laptop, including 23 which were rated level 4 - the most serious. Saunders' defence lawyer explained his clients' behaviour due to feeling "second best" while he was growing up.

"This man is not bad, he is utterly remorseful," Bournemouth Crown Court was told.

The 49-year-old taught at Buckholme Towers School in Lower Parkstone, Poole. The independent day school accepts boys and girls from aged 3 to 12 years, charging nearly £3,000 in fees per term.

The former headteacher admitted he had been "indulging" in the habit for around 10 years.

Saunders' role in the Chernobyl charity included organising summer holidays for children from Belarus - who were placed with host families in Poole.

Judge Roger Jarvis, who sent Saunders to jail on Monday for 20 weeks, told him: "It is deeply surprising someone like you should engage in this sort of activity.

"[Those children's] lives are ruined and you must know that."

Saunders has been added to the sex offenders' register for seven years and disqualified from working with children for life.

Close

What's Hot