In 2024, the Offender Database reported that Curtis Clarke, then 39, formerly of Carlisle, Cumbria, and latterly of Grovebury Farm Close, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, was sentenced to 29 months in prison. On Friday, 13 September 2024, the former secondary school teacher appeared at Carlisle Crown Court for his “vindictive” and “malicious” campaign of harassment and revenge porn.
The investigation established that Clarke secretly recorded sexual encounters with a woman on his phone without her consent. When the victim attempted to end their relationship, the defendant “reprehensibly” posted screenshots from the videos in public locations, including a pub toilet wall and a bus stop in Carlisle, Cumbria. The prosecution reported that these posters included the woman’s name, address, and phone number, effectively acting as an advertisement for sexual services. Clarke was identified after Cumbria Police recovered his fingerprints from the posters and located the original videos on a storage device following his arrest.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Clarke was a “manipulative” and “exploitative” character who calculated his actions to cause maximum damage. Judge Nicholas Barker noted that the defendant’s behaviour was “deeply malicious” and designed to have a lasting impact on the victim, who described herself as feeling “crushed inside.” The judge noted that during the trial, Clarke made “bogus” claims that forced the court to play uncensored footage to refute his “dishonest” testimony, further increasing the victim’s ordeal.
The judge noted that Clarke had been sacked from his teaching position following his “reprehensible” conduct. Despite the defendant writing a letter of apology, the victim refused to read it, viewing it as a further attempt to “dishonestly” manipulate the situation. The prosecution emphasised that Clarke had previously made requests for intimate images which the victim had “bravely” refused, leading him to resort to secret filming. For his crimes in Carlisle, Cumbria, the court determined that a custodial sentence was the only way to address such “vindictive” offending.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Curtis Clarke was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 29 months in immediate custody.
- Convictions: Admitted two counts and was found guilty of four additional counts of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress (revenge porn).
- Professional Impact: Sacked from his secondary school teaching role and subject to referral to the Teaching Regulation Agency.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Clarke is managed by the Probation Service following his “serious” offending in Carlisle and his residence in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. Due to the “reprehensible” nature of his calculated harassment and sexual exploitation, his management is subject to oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
Authorities in Cumbria and Bedfordshire state that Clarke’s actions represent a “serious” breach of privacy and trust. While revenge porn offences do not always trigger automatic placement on the Sex Offenders Register, his “malicious” behaviour and professional fall from grace make him a priority for supervision. Any further “vindictive” behaviour or attempts to contact the victim in Carlisle or elsewhere will result in his immediate arrest and return to Carlisle Crown Court.
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