DAVE DENIS AND EMMA STRETTON STRIPPED FROM TEACHING REGISTERS IN BRIDGEND AND CARDIFF OVER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the educational communities of Bridgend and Cardiff, a married couple employed as teachers have been formally removed from the teaching register following allegations of possessing and viewing child pornography on their home computers. The couple, identified as David Denis and Emma Stretton, became the focus of a detailed disciplinary investigation after authorities uncovered evidence linking their personal devices to illegal online activity.

According to reports presented during a two-day hearing conducted by the General Teaching Council for Wales, authorities discovered a total of 103 photographs depicting young girls on a computer located within the couple’s residence. The images, which were reportedly downloaded from a German website, included explicit and revealing poses of girls aged between five and seven. It was alleged that David Denis accessed these images during the early hours of the morning, while his wife, Emma Stretton, was accused of turning a blind eye to his activities.

The investigation was initiated following an international effort, including an Interpol probe, which linked the couple’s home computer to a known paedophile website. The evidence suggested that Denis was likely responsible for viewing and downloading the illicit images, with authorities indicating a high probability that he was the individual who accessed the German site. While no criminal charges were ultimately filed against the couple—due to uncertainties about who had accessed the material—the disciplinary hearing found most of the allegations against them to be substantiated.

Denis, who was employed at Heronsbridge School in Bridgend, was handed an indefinite prohibition order, effectively striking him off the teaching register permanently. His wife, Emma Stretton, who worked at Ty Gwyn Special School in Cardiff, received a 12-month suspension from the register. Additionally, she was ordered to undertake a professional development program focused on child protection and the responsible use of the internet, which she was required to fund herself.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that despite the evidence, the couple did not attend the hearing and were unrepresented. The panel concluded that Denis had accessed a paedophile website and had viewed and downloaded child pornography images. As for Stretton, the committee found that she failed to recognize or act upon the likelihood that her husband had accessed such material, breaching the trust placed in her as a teacher working with vulnerable children. However, the panel did not find sufficient evidence to support an allegation that she failed to provide full information during the investigation.

Martin Jones, the case presenter, emphasized that the images were not linked to the schools where the couple worked, and clarified that the images were downloaded from a German website, with no evidence connecting them to the children at Heronsbridge or Ty Gwyn Schools. The committee’s decision was also influenced by the fact that the couple’s actions undermined public confidence in the teaching profession, especially given their roles in educating vulnerable young people. Peter Williams, a member of the council, stated that the persistent denial and failure to acknowledge the involvement of Denis in accessing the illegal material contributed to the decision to remove them from the register, highlighting the importance of trust and integrity in the teaching profession.