A former assistant head teacher, Catherine Pearl Abingdon Paedophile, has been imprisoned for sexual offences against a youngster in Didcot, following an investigation by Thames Valley Police.
Catherine Pearl, 50, of Sutton Close, Abingdon, has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison.
Catherine Pearl admitted admission to two charges of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor while exploiting a position of trust.
Catherine Pearl had served as the assistant head teacher at Didcot Girls’ School, where the victim was a student.
The incidents were reported to Thames Valley Police in 2023, after which a comprehensive investigation was conducted by the force’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit.
Catherine Pearl was first apprehended and interrogated on 9 August 2023 and subsequently charged with the charges on 10 October of the previous year.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Sarah Tibble of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “I would like to commend the victim in this case, who has shown such bravery in coming forward to report the offences and put her trust in Thames Valley Police to bring Catherine Pearl to justice.
“If you are a victim, or have any suspicions about a crime no matter when it took place please contact Thames Valley Police.
“We have specially trained officers who will always listen and support you. You can contact us via our website, by calling 101 or visiting a police station.”
Pearl was sentenced on Friday (24/1) at Oxford Crown Court, after pleading guilty to the offences at a previous hearing on 12 November last year.
UPDATE
A former teacher at an all girls school who said she modelled herself on a young Pamela Anderson, convicted of sexual activity with a pupil at the time, has been described as ‘not a predatory paedophile’ in a Court of Appeal judgement.
Catherine Pearl, formerly employed by Didcot Girls’ School, was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment earlier this year for two counts of sexual activity with a girl as an adult abusing a position of trust, on no fewer than 10 occasions.
When the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, started at the secondary school, the 50-year-old was her head of year.
Pearl groomed the girl and eventually the conversations became sexual, the court heard.
When the girl turned 16, a full sexual ‘relationship’ began and continued for several years.
On July 4, the Court of Appeal granted that Pearl’s Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) could be quashed.
The restrictions included notifying police of any devices acquired and using the internet to contact a child under 18.
The full wording of the Court of Appeal ruling has now been shared with this newspaper.
In the judgement from Lord Justice Dingemans and Mr Justice Cavanagh, it said: “We consider that these restrictions are unnecessary and disproportionate and should not have been imposed.
“Unlike so many sexual offences that come before the courts the appellant’s offending had nothing to do with the internet or with accessing indecent images.
“Put bluntly, this was simply not that sort of case. The appellant’s offending grew out of a wholly inappropriate relationship with a single individual.
“Given that this is not a case which gives rise to any concern that the appellant will make use of the internet to contact other potential victims or to access unlawful pornography, it was unnecessary and disproportionate to impose this class of restrictions upon the appellant.”
It added: “At the heart, however, is the fact that this offending, though very serious, took place in the context of an intense relationship with a single individual.
“That individual is protected by the restraining order. There is no evidence that the appellant poses a threat to children in general. She is not a predatory paedophile.
“She made full and frank admissions of her offending. She was of previous good character and exhibited no concerning behaviour in the period between arrest and sentence.
“Before leaving this appeal we should make clear that nothing we have said detracts from the seriousness of the appellant’s offending. It is hard to think of a more grievous breach of trust.
“It is behaviour that had a terrible impact on an extremely vulnerable child.
“The sentencing judge was plainly right in our opinion to take a very serious view of it in her clear and thorough sentencing remarks.
“Nevertheless, for the reasons we have given we allow the appeal and quash the Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).”
A new SHPO was put in place which ensures Pearl cannot work in a position with care or authority of children under the age of 18.
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