In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Freya Squires, then 46, of Steyne Road, Seaford, East Sussex, remains subject to strict lifetime monitoring following a “vicious” abuse of her professional position. Squires, a former teaching assistant at Tideway School (now Seahaven Academy) in Newhaven, East Sussex, was originally sentenced at Hove Crown Court for a systematic grooming campaign against a 14-year-old girl.
The investigation established that Squires “viciously” groomed the victim, with the “deceitful” abuse occurring in school toilets, gym facilities, and public toilets at Seaford beach, East Sussex. To maintain the “manipulative” secrecy of the relationship, Squires warned the teenager of “huge consequences” if they were caught, leading the girl to wear a blonde wig when visiting Squires’ home.
Sentencing and Court of Appeal Increase
While Squires was initially sentenced to three years and four months, the Offender Database reported that the Court of Appeal later increased her sentence to four years and eight months. The Solicitor General argued the original term was “unduly lenient” given that Squires repeatedly abused a “vulnerable” child who viewed her as a “parent figure.”
Judge Shani Barnes emphasised that society would not tolerate such a breach of trust. The court heard how the victim, confused about her sexuality and facing a “troubled” home life, was “systematically” sexualised by Squires nearly every day after school.
Statutory Requirements and Professional Barring
For her “abhorrent” crimes in East Sussex, Freya Squires was subject to:
- Custodial Sentence: Increased to four years and eight months.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were imposed for life.
- Teaching Ban: A lifetime prohibition from working in any educational setting or in a “position of trust” with children.
- Licence Supervision: Mandatory post-release supervision by the National Probation Service.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Squires is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Sussex Police. Her status remains under “critical” scrutiny due to her “persistent” grooming and the “manipulative” tactics she used to bypass school warnings regarding her conduct with the victim.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Squires must comply with strict notification requirements regarding her address in Seaford, East Sussex, and any digital activity. Sussex Police state that any attempt to re-enter a school environment or any breach of her registration conditions will result in her immediate return to Hove Crown Court.
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