July 2022 Perverted teacher avoids prison A former Basildon school teacher who was found with more than 1700 indecent images of kids and more than 460 indecent videos of children and animal abuse has avoided jail. Austin Betts, 32, who worked at Woodlands School in Basildon, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, two counts of distributing indecent images of children and one count of possession of extreme pornography. He was found with the images when officers raided his home in Mendip Crescent, Westcliff, in July 2021, after receiving information that indecent videos of children had been uploaded online from the property. Last month school bosses wrote to parents yesterday confirming that he had admitted the offences, as well as insisting that checks were carried out prior to his employment and they had co-operated with the police investigation. The headteacher added that Betts has not been on the school site since July 2021. He was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday July 12 to a 20-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Basildon Crown Court. He has been put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years. June 2022 Basildon’s Woodlands school teacher admits to possessing child sexual abuse photographs A schoolteacher has admitted possessing a catalogue of indecent images of children, as well as having “extreme pornography involving animals”. Austin Betts, who taught at Woodlands School in Basildon, will be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court next week after pleading guilty to a host of offences. The 32-year-old, of Mendip Crescent, Westcliff, admitted three charges of making indecent images of children, two charges of distributing indecent images of children, and possession of extreme pornography involving animals at a magistrates court appearance in May. School bosses wrote to parents yesterday confirming that he had admitted the offences, as well as insisting that checks were carried out prior to his employment and they had co-operated with the police investigation. The headteacher added that Brett has not been on the school site since July 2021. It is believed he was suspended when the school was made aware of the allegations against him, although school leaders refused to provide any additional detail. In a letter to parents, it said: “We can confirm that Austin Betts, a former teacher, has pleaded guilty to making and the distribution of indecent images. “We want to assure the school community that we carried out all the required safeguarding checks before his employment and have cooperated fully with the police investigation. He has not been on the school site since July 2021. “While the school’s leadership team are very shocked by this news, there is absolutely no suggestion that any of the crimes relate to students or staff at the school. If any members of the school community are affected by these events we would, of course, facilitate any support needed.” Brett will be sentenced on Monday at Basildon Crown Court after admitting the charges at Basildon Magistrates Court on May 24.