ELWYN DURANT'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN HARINGEY, HORNSEY, AND KNIGHTON REVEALED

In August 2010, the criminal case against Elwyn John Durant, a man with a long history of disturbing offenses related to child exploitation, reached a significant turning point as he was sentenced to four years in prison at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. Durant, aged 56, who previously worked as a science teacher in Haringey and Hornsey, was found guilty of possessing an extensive collection of indecent images of children, along with footage captured through covert filming. His criminal activities spanned several years and involved a disturbing pattern of voyeurism and possession of illicit material.

Durant’s latest conviction stemmed from a police investigation that uncovered a horrifying stash of over 127,000 indecent photographs of children, stored alongside hours of video footage he had secretly recorded. The footage, which Durant initially claimed was taken to observe red kites, was discovered in his bedroom at Fronhir, Knighton, while he was still on license for previous child pornography offenses. The police found that Durant had used a camcorder capable of recording both during the day and at night, capturing hours of a young girl from Knighton as she played and undressed in her bedroom.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Sarah Waters detailed the extent of Durant’s illegal collection. She explained that the police found the footage alongside a vast array of other illicit images, including more than 127,000 photographs of children, in Durant’s residence. The discovery was made during a routine police visit to monitor Durant’s compliance with his license conditions. The police also uncovered five camcorders, 40 cassettes, numerous DVDs and CDs, computer equipment, cuddly toys, and cut-out photographs of children in underwear, all of which painted a disturbing picture of Durant’s activities.

Durant’s history of offending was well-documented. He had previously been convicted in June 2006 at Wood Green Crown Court in London of 15 child pornography offenses, including possession and creation of indecent images. After serving half of a three-year sentence, he was released in November 2007 and returned to live with his elderly parents in Knighton under license. It was during a routine police visit to his residence that authorities discovered the extent of his illegal activities. The police seized multiple devices, including five camcorders, DVDs, CDs, and computer equipment, which contained a staggering number of illicit images.

Prosecutor Waters revealed that the discs examined contained a wide range of images, from less explicit Category One images to highly explicit Category Five images, totaling over 83,000 uncategorized images. Durant had also been copying older images onto DVDs, further indicating a systematic approach to storing and possibly distributing these images. Durant admitted to 16 offenses but denied being aroused by the photographs, claiming that the images did not provoke him.

Defense lawyer Leighton Hughes argued that the images would evoke revulsion in any reasonable person but emphasized that they were not recent and had been in Durant’s possession since 2006. He pointed out that Durant had not used the internet since his release and had no contact with children, acknowledging the development of his interest in images through invasion of privacy. Hughes described Durant as an intelligent man who had maintained a respectable reputation for many years but had become a loner with no conventional relationships.

Judge John Curran, presiding over the case, emphasized the danger Durant posed to children and condemned his persistent and unhealthy interest in indecency involving minors. The judge sentenced Durant to four years in prison, with the stipulation that he would serve half of the sentence before being released on license for an additional four years. Furthermore, Durant was banned from working with children for life and was required to register as a sex offender. Additional restrictions included a lifelong order preventing him from owning or using computers, telephones, or cameras capable of recording images, as well as a prohibition on allowing children under 16 to visit him unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

In a related case from June 2006, Durant’s reputation was marred by his long-standing association with a school in Haringey. A former teacher at Greig City Academy, Durant was sentenced to three years in jail for possessing indecent images of children. The allegations against him also included a 1986 incident where a woman claimed he indecently assaulted her when she was a child. Police had uncovered over 123,000 pornographic images of children on his home computer during a raid in September 2004, leading to his arrest and subsequent resignation from his teaching position.

Detective Sergeant Neil Coleman of Haringey’s child protection team described the investigation, noting that there was no evidence of Durant having physically abused children, but the sheer volume of indecent images was enough to warrant serious concern. Former students and colleagues described Durant as having a reputation for inappropriate behavior dating back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, with some recalling disturbing lessons and conduct that suggested a pattern of perversion.

Durant’s employment history and vetting process came under scrutiny, especially given the establishment of the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) and the stricter vetting procedures introduced after the Police Act 1997. Despite his long tenure at the school, Durant had been vetted under the older system, which might have allowed him to continue working without detection if the new checks had been in place earlier. A Department of Education and Skills spokesperson explained that schools are responsible for conducting background checks and that if concerns are raised, further screening can be requested. Haringey Council also stated that all staff undergo checks in line with official guidance and that any allegations are thoroughly investigated.

Durant was sentenced on May 24 to 15 charges related to possession of indecent images, receiving a three-year sentence for making and possessing such images, along with additional shorter sentences for possession. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register and discharged from a charge of indecent assault from two decades prior, with the incident remaining on file. During the trial, the defense attempted to suggest Durant might have been suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism affecting communication and social interaction, although this was not formally diagnosed.