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Indecent images caretaker lived in Eaton Primary School | Indecent images caretaker lived in Eaton Primary School |
(35 minutes later) | |
A primary school caretaker who admitted possessing nearly 4,000 indecent images of children lived in a cupboard at the school where he worked, a court heard. | |
Gavin Clark, 41, was site manager at Eaton Primary School, Norwich, when he was arrested last July. | Gavin Clark, 41, was site manager at Eaton Primary School, Norwich, when he was arrested last July. |
Police found the indecent images on a laptop computer, memory stick and SD card after searching a cupboard at the school where Clark had been sleeping. | Police found the indecent images on a laptop computer, memory stick and SD card after searching a cupboard at the school where Clark had been sleeping. |
Judge Mark Lucraft jailed Clark for 12 months at Norwich Crown Court. | Judge Mark Lucraft jailed Clark for 12 months at Norwich Crown Court. |
The court heard Clark, of no fixed address, was on sick leave from work last July. | The court heard Clark, of no fixed address, was on sick leave from work last July. |
Split from wife | Split from wife |
He contacted a member of staff, saying that he had personal possessions at the school that he needed access to. | He contacted a member of staff, saying that he had personal possessions at the school that he needed access to. |
Kevin Eastwick, prosecuting, said: "As a consequence, the headmaster Mr Portas became aware of a storage area Mr Clark was using as his own improvised bed, and other personal effects. | Kevin Eastwick, prosecuting, said: "As a consequence, the headmaster Mr Portas became aware of a storage area Mr Clark was using as his own improvised bed, and other personal effects. |
"He had been using that as temporary accommodation." | "He had been using that as temporary accommodation." |
Police found 1,749 different indecent images, some of which had been duplicated across the laptop, memory stick and SD card, giving a total of 3,931 images. | Police found 1,749 different indecent images, some of which had been duplicated across the laptop, memory stick and SD card, giving a total of 3,931 images. |
Of those, 484 were classified at level four and five at level five - the most serious categories of indecent images. | Of those, 484 were classified at level four and five at level five - the most serious categories of indecent images. |
More than 300 of those pictures showed children under 13. | More than 300 of those pictures showed children under 13. |
Ian James, defending, said Clark had split up from his wife three years ago but the couple continued to live together, divorcing in spring last year. | Ian James, defending, said Clark had split up from his wife three years ago but the couple continued to live together, divorcing in spring last year. |
'Extremely salutary lesson' | 'Extremely salutary lesson' |
"He was effectively living in a cupboard at the school where he worked. That fact explains the possession of the material at that particular location," he said. | "He was effectively living in a cupboard at the school where he worked. That fact explains the possession of the material at that particular location," he said. |
"It's the fact that he was living there, staying there, that is the relevant consideration, rather than anything more sinister." | "It's the fact that he was living there, staying there, that is the relevant consideration, rather than anything more sinister." |
Mr James said Clark was of previous good character and that arrest and prosecution had been an "extremely salutary lesson" for him. | Mr James said Clark was of previous good character and that arrest and prosecution had been an "extremely salutary lesson" for him. |
"He feels very conscious of the way in which he will be perceived by right-minded members of the public hereafter," he said. | "He feels very conscious of the way in which he will be perceived by right-minded members of the public hereafter," he said. |
In November Clark admitted three counts of possessing indecent images. | |
He claimed the images were on an SD card that he found outside the school and that he had not known their nature. | He claimed the images were on an SD card that he found outside the school and that he had not known their nature. |
He said he copied them unwittingly when transferring some other images from the SD card to the memory stick. | He said he copied them unwittingly when transferring some other images from the SD card to the memory stick. |
Breakdown of marriage | Breakdown of marriage |
Judge Lucraft said he was satisfied that Clark had not created or distributed the images, and gave him credit for his guilty plea. | Judge Lucraft said he was satisfied that Clark had not created or distributed the images, and gave him credit for his guilty plea. |
But he said the number of images in the most extreme categories was an aggravating factor. | But he said the number of images in the most extreme categories was an aggravating factor. |
He said Clark had clearly been deeply affected by the breakdown of his marriage, adding: "It seems to me that the reasons for your behaviour are very difficult to discern." | He said Clark had clearly been deeply affected by the breakdown of his marriage, adding: "It seems to me that the reasons for your behaviour are very difficult to discern." |
Jailing Clark for 12 months, he also passed a sexual offences prevention order. | Jailing Clark for 12 months, he also passed a sexual offences prevention order. |
The order, valid for five years, restricts Clark's use of devices capable of accessing the internet and of storing digital images. | The order, valid for five years, restricts Clark's use of devices capable of accessing the internet and of storing digital images. |
The judge ordered that 13 counts of making indecent images lie on file. | |
He also ordered the forfeiture of the laptop, memory stick and SD card. | He also ordered the forfeiture of the laptop, memory stick and SD card. |
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