Voyeur teaching assistant who planted iPhone in Denmead Junior School toilets spared jail

Statements from some parents of Jack Dunn’s victims were read at Portsmouth Crown Court with one mother fearing he picked his job to get perverted access to children.

Dunn, 24, was spared jail for recording children in toilets at Denmead Junior School over the course of a week in November 2019.

‘I can’t put into words how physically sick that made me feel and continues to make me,’ one parent said, and added: ‘My trust in the school has been completely shattered.’

Another parent said she felt ‘instantly sick’ when she found out her child was a victim.

Dunn picked out his ‘highlights’ from the videos he recorded, making 24 screenshots of his favourite moments.

Parents fear the images could have been uploaded to the dark web or elsewhere before Dunn was caught.

‘These questions are something I will probably never know the answer to but will haunt my life forever,’ one said.

Sentencing, judge David Melville QC said: ‘The parents send these children to these schools believing at school the environment is safe and you breached that, and it’s very serious.’

The court heard how a teacher was handed the phone after it was found, and it was then given to headteacher Elaine Viner who locked it away.

‘The next day Mr Dunn was at the school acting rather suspiciously,’ prosecutor Adrian Fleming said. ‘Plainly he had gone to retrieve the phone, he was seen to be rummaging through a box in which pupils placed their phones.’

He added: ‘There was the grossest breach of trust, we suggest there was clearly a significant degree of planning and clearly images were recorded.’

Judge Melville imposed a 12-month sentence suspended for two years, with 200 hours’ unpaid work and sex offender treatment programme.

The judge said he suspended the term due to Dunn’s age, and the fact he has no previous convictions.

He also considered the effects of Covid-19 in prisons and Dunn’s difficult upbringing and family life, as outlined by his mother in a letter.

Dunn was subjected to a five-year sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders’ register.

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He admitted voyeurism and making category C indecent images.

Damian Hayes, for Dunn, care of Wilton Drive, Horndean, said his client was ‘ashamed’ and added: ‘He’s sorry for what he did during that week in November 2019, and acutely sorry for the distress he caused the children and the parents at that school.

‘He could offer no explanation for his behaviour.’

Probation ruled in a report that Dunn, who is seeking help, is struggling to come to terms with what he did.

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: ‘Individuals who breach their position of trust and put the safety and wellbeing of children at risk do so deceptively and will do whatever they can to hide their activities.

‘We commend the school for taking immediate action as soon as the deceit was suspected.

‘Ensuring the safety of children and young people while they are in school is a responsibility all headteachers prioritise. This case is a reminder that, in every community, we must be vigilant at all times, and report any concerns we may have. It is also important any safeguarding concerns indicated by children and young people are taken seriously.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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