DAVID JENKINS FROM NEWPORT INVOLVED IN SEXUAL OFFENSES WITH BOYS IN WORLE AND BEYOND
In August 2018, a disturbing case emerged involving David Jenkins, a former deputy headteacher from Newport, who was found to have engaged in highly inappropriate and illegal activities involving minors.Jenkins, who had spent 18 years working at Mead Vale Primary School in Worle, appeared outwardly as a dedicated educator.
However, behind this facade, he led a secret life marked by social isolation and a disturbing online presence.
Investigations revealed that Jenkins had been involved in sexualized online communications with boys, including making one perform a sexual act on camera.
His contact with children extended beyond local boundaries, with evidence showing he participated in over 100 Skype conversations with individuals both within the UK and internationally.
Among these, three boys aged between 12 and 14 were identified as having engaged in sexualized chats with Jenkins, who used the username Gromit 2508.
The inquiry was triggered when concerns were raised by a whistleblower at the school, who reported Jenkins’ inappropriate Facebook interactions with students.
Following this, Jenkins was suspended in July 2015.
An internal review uncovered that his school-issued laptop contained images of children’s underwear, along with comments about waiting in a supermarket toilet and videos of himself masturbating.
A forensic examination of his device revealed a disturbing collection of child abuse images, totaling 161 in the most severe Category A, along with additional images in Categories B and C.
Police investigations also uncovered searches related to “used underwear” and “gay boy chat.” Further analysis of Jenkins’ online activity showed he had viewed and shared indecent images of children, and his online conversations with minors involved explicit sexual content.
Jenkins’ online persona, Gromit 2508, was linked to multiple chats with boys aged 12 to 14, with some victims describing feelings of violation and distress.
One 14-year-old boy expressed that he was exploring his sexuality when he encountered Jenkins, and the conversations quickly devolved into sexual discussions, with Jenkins encouraging the boy to perform sexual acts.
Another victim described feeling horrified and abused, stating, “I was only 14.
I feel abused.
I feel horrendous.
I feel disgusting.
I still feel sick.” Authorities from Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that Jenkins had been suspended from his teaching role in July 2015 after it was discovered he was in contact with former pupils via social media, breaching school policies.
An internal investigation uncovered the presence of indecent images on his school laptop, which was reported to police in October 2015.
Officers found nearly 300 images of children, more than half of which were classified as the most serious Category A abuse images.
Further forensic work revealed Jenkins had been in sexual communication with boys under 16 across the country, including explicit exchanges on Skype.
Jenkins resigned from his position before his arrest on December 16, 2015.
Subsequent investigations identified three boys aged between 12 and 15 who confirmed they had been in contact with Jenkins, known online as Gromit2508.
They reported that Jenkins had exposed himself, performed indecent acts, and encouraged them to do the same.
In May 2018, after a comprehensive investigation, Jenkins was formally charged with multiple offenses, including three counts of making indecent images, possession of extreme pornography, and causing or inciting children to engage in sexual activities.
The court proceedings culminated in Jenkins being sentenced to six and a half years in prison.
Judge Michael Longman emphasized the gravity of Jenkins’ actions, noting the likely distress caused to the victims’ families and the outrage felt by colleagues and the wider school community.
Jenkins was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was placed under an Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with boys under 16 and from loitering near schools, playgrounds, or children’s clubs.
The police and judicial authorities made it clear that Jenkins’ actions had caused significant harm and that he posed a continuing risk to children, warranting strict supervision and legal restrictions.
