Ex head teacher jailed over indecent images

Timothy Moule, 53, was a head teacher at schools in Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury

A former head teacher has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after he was found to have more than 1,000 indecent images of children.

Timothy Moule, from Telford, pleaded guilty to four counts of making indecent images of children and one count of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The 53-year-old, who was a head teacher at schools in Wolverhampton and Shropshire, was arrested at his home in September, after officers were told he was sharing indecent images of children on social media platform X, the West Mercia force said.

He was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court on 31 October.

During his arrest, Moule denied having any additional digital devices than the two already known to police, the force said.

After officers told him they would search his home, he subsequently surrendered two tablets on which the illegal images were stored, the force added.

The court heard Moule's tablets contained 141 category A images - the most severe - as well as 149 category B images, 789 category C, and 21 prohibited pictures.

"Moule is a dangerous individual whose obsession with young children poses a threat to society," said DC Rob Manders from West Mercia Police.

Moule was jailed for similar offences in 2018.

It was found during investigations back then that he had secretly filmed boys getting changed and downloaded child abuse images.

He was sentenced to 52 months over charges of voyeurism and making indecent images.

More than 3,500 indecent images were found on his devices at that time.