CHRISTOPHER HARDMAN FROM BATLEY INVOLVED IN SHOCKING TOPLESS MODELING SCHEME IN KIRKLEES

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Batley and the wider Kirklees area, a senior social worker has been found guilty of abusing his position to exploit vulnerable teenage girls. Christopher Hardman, aged 55, who was employed as a youth offending team manager within Kirklees Council, engaged in a calculated scheme to persuade young women, some as young as 15, to participate in topless and nude photo shoots under false pretenses.

Hardman’s misconduct was uncovered during a conduct hearing held by the General Social Care Council in central London. The hearing revealed that he had systematically obtained personal files and contact details of several young women, many of whom were known to the youth offending team he managed. Using a variety of aliases, Hardman contacted these girls through text messages and letters, falsely claiming to represent legitimate modelling agencies. His goal was to lure them into participating in illicit photo sessions, which he concealed from his colleagues and the public.

Chairwoman Sarah Phillips, presiding over the hearing, condemned Hardman’s actions as a “gross breach” of trust. She emphasized that his conduct was not only elaborate and sophisticated but also targeted vulnerable young women, including service users and minors. The committee described his behavior as a sustained course of misconduct that involved deliberate concealment of his involvement, representing a significant abuse of his position of authority. Such actions, she stated, were entirely incompatible with the responsibilities and ethical standards expected of a social worker.

The investigation revealed that Hardman did not attend the actual photo shoots but was instrumental in persuading four young women, all known to the youth offending team, to pose topless or nude for money. The offer was typically around £120 for a full nude shoot. The victims were identified only by letters to protect their identities. The youngest girl, identified as Miss A, was just 15 when she was first approached. Hardman, under the alias “Peter Jennings,” initially contacted her and advised her to lie about her age and forge her parents’ signatures to participate in the shoots.

One of the girls, Miss B, was first approached at age 15 via a phone call. Hardman, claiming to be “Sue,” told her she could do topless photos once she turned 16, but not nude. After her birthday, he contacted her again, using her home phone and two mobile phones, claiming there was a shortage of black models and encouraging her to pose. Miss B eventually agreed and posed for photographs, initially with her bra on and later without it. She later received 179 thumbnail images from the shoot, some of which she described as “looking sexual.”

Other victims included Miss C and Miss D, aged 16 and approximately 18 respectively, both of whom agreed to pose topless. Miss C participated in a shoot with a friend after obtaining parental consent. Hardman also targeted Miss E, a 16-year-old described as “extremely vulnerable, especially to older men,” by obtaining her contact details through her work.

In a further disturbing case, Hardman persuaded the mother of a young woman, who was over 20, to allow her daughter to participate in a photo shoot, falsely claiming it was a legitimate money-making opportunity. The young woman was the daughter of a colleague of Hardman’s, and he concealed his involvement with the bogus studio.

The offences took place in 2005, and the case came to light after the arrest of photographer David Hemingway in early 2006. Following the investigation, Hardman resigned from Kirklees Council. His employers stated that he would have been dismissed regardless of the criminal proceedings. Neither Hardman nor Hemingway faced criminal charges, as police chose not to pursue prosecution in this case.

Hardman’s actions have left a lasting stain on his reputation and have raised serious concerns about safeguarding and the abuse of authority within social services in the Kirklees area.