BRENDAN MOORE FROM BREDENBURY AND BROMYARD JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ABUSE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Bredenbury and Bromyard, Brendan Moore, a senior teacher and former head of English and history at St Richard's private boarding school near Bromyard, has been sentenced to a year in prison following a series of disturbing criminal activities involving the exploitation of minors.

Moore, aged 55, was found guilty of possessing and creating indecent photographs of boys aged between six and 15. The court heard that he downloaded more than 2,000 such images from the internet, many of which depicted young victims suffering at the hands of sadistic adults. Among these images, 21 were particularly heinous, showing children in distress and abuse, highlighting the severity of his actions.

The criminal case also revealed that two boys had come forward in the 1990s, accusing Moore of sexual abuse. These allegations added to the gravity of his misconduct, which spanned over a decade. The court was informed that Moore had engaged in filming boys during trips to Kielder activity centre in Northumberland, where he used a camera to zoom in on their groins, an act described by the judge as a gross breach of trust and a violation of personal boundaries.

These offences occurred prior to Moore's employment at St Richard's, where he was dismissed following his arrest. The court was told that his actions not only betrayed the trust placed in him as an educator but also contributed to a broader issue of online child exploitation. Prosecutor Tariq Shakoor emphasized that Moore's online activities, which took place between 2001 and 2007, encouraged others to participate in this horrific trade.

Judge Andrew Geddes sentenced Moore to 12 months in prison, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes. He also ordered Moore to be placed on the sex offenders' register for ten years and prohibited him from working with children under 16 for the rest of his life. Additionally, upon his release, Moore will be subject to a three-year license period during which he must attend a sex offender rehabilitation program.

Moore, who resides in Burley Gate near Bromyard, was represented by his legal counsel, Michael Duck. The defense argued that Moore had contributed positively to the lives of many children and that testimonials from those he had helped demonstrated his respectability. They also pointed out that Moore had never taken an indecent photo himself nor engaged in physical contact with any minors. Since his arrest, Moore has reportedly sought therapy and has been actively facing his issues.

Overall, this case underscores the ongoing concerns about child safety, the misuse of technology, and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation and abuse.