GERARD HEATON FROM HUNGERFORD BANNED FOR LIFE AFTER CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES REVELATION
| Red Rose Database
Hungerford Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing turn of events, Gerard Heaton, the former headteacher of Hungerford Primary School in Berkshire, has been handed a lifetime ban from working in educational settings following his conviction related to child sex abuse images. The serious legal repercussions come after a series of revelations about his involvement in possessing and publishing indecent material involving minors.
Back in 2023, Heaton, aged 57 at the time, was sentenced to eight months in prison for the offence of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. This conviction marked a significant fall from grace for a man who had previously held prominent positions within the West Berkshire education system. His career, which included roles at several primary schools, was abruptly halted by these criminal charges.
Further details emerged in April 2023, when it was reported that Gerard 'Gerry' Heaton, who was then residing at Bradley Court in Hungerford, was not only involved in possessing a large collection of child sexual abuse images but was also actively publishing vile fantasies and material online. These revelations cast a dark shadow over his previously respected reputation, especially considering his prominent role in the local educational community.
During a preliminary court hearing, it was disclosed that Heaton, who was living at Bradley Close in Kintbury at the time, had admitted to possessing hundreds of indecent images of children. The images were categorized into three levels of severity: 124 images classified as Category C, 131 as Category B, and 66 as Category A, indicating the increasing severity of the content. These offences were committed over a span of nearly a decade, from January 21, 2012, to September 9, 2021, all within the Kintbury area.
Despite these admissions, Heaton did not plead guilty to charges related to publishing obscene articles. However, it was established that he had authored and uploaded five books—titled 'Band Boy,' 'Band Boy Blues,' 'Band Boy Banned,' 'Band Boy Blazes,' and 'Band Boy Bliss'—on an adult website between May 14, 2021, and April 1 of the following year, while still residing in Kintbury. These publications contained explicit content and were part of the disturbing evidence presented during the proceedings.
During the preliminary hearing, Heaton’s legal counsel expressed hope that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) might consider dropping the charge of publishing obscene articles, given his guilty plea to possessing child sexual abuse images. His lawyer stated that Heaton was eager to avoid a trial that would reveal lurid details of his offending and that he was actively attempting to rehabilitate himself by enrolling in courses designed for child sex offenders. Despite these efforts, the CPS decided to proceed with the case, and at the recent sentencing, Heaton admitted to the offence of publishing obscene material.
As a result, Gerard Heaton was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for a period of 12 months. Additionally, he was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years and was mandated to participate in a rehabilitation program aimed at addressing his offending behavior. These measures are intended to protect the community and prevent any future harm.
Heaton’s professional background includes serving as headteacher at Hungerford Primary School from January 2014 until his early retirement in August 2017. Prior to that, he was headteacher at Inkpen Primary School for over eight years, starting in April 2008. His career in education also included roles as deputy headteacher and acting headteacher at Lambourn Primary School beginning in January 2001. In the months leading up to his arrest, he was working as a specialist teacher at Theale Primary School and had also served as a school governor at Kintbury St Mary’s Primary School.
Known as an inspirational educator during his career, Mr. Heaton was a former pupil of John O’Gaunt School in Hungerford. His reputation within the local community was once highly regarded, but these criminal activities have overshadowed his previous contributions. It is also noted that he is no longer an adviser to the TTST, an organization dedicated to supporting young people facing social, emotional, and mental health challenges.
All the primary schools associated with Heaton are publicly funded institutions, with the exception of Lambourn Primary School, which is managed by the Excalibur Academies Trust. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding and the devastating impact of abuse, even among those entrusted with the education and well-being of children.
Back in 2023, Heaton, aged 57 at the time, was sentenced to eight months in prison for the offence of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. This conviction marked a significant fall from grace for a man who had previously held prominent positions within the West Berkshire education system. His career, which included roles at several primary schools, was abruptly halted by these criminal charges.
Further details emerged in April 2023, when it was reported that Gerard 'Gerry' Heaton, who was then residing at Bradley Court in Hungerford, was not only involved in possessing a large collection of child sexual abuse images but was also actively publishing vile fantasies and material online. These revelations cast a dark shadow over his previously respected reputation, especially considering his prominent role in the local educational community.
During a preliminary court hearing, it was disclosed that Heaton, who was living at Bradley Close in Kintbury at the time, had admitted to possessing hundreds of indecent images of children. The images were categorized into three levels of severity: 124 images classified as Category C, 131 as Category B, and 66 as Category A, indicating the increasing severity of the content. These offences were committed over a span of nearly a decade, from January 21, 2012, to September 9, 2021, all within the Kintbury area.
Despite these admissions, Heaton did not plead guilty to charges related to publishing obscene articles. However, it was established that he had authored and uploaded five books—titled 'Band Boy,' 'Band Boy Blues,' 'Band Boy Banned,' 'Band Boy Blazes,' and 'Band Boy Bliss'—on an adult website between May 14, 2021, and April 1 of the following year, while still residing in Kintbury. These publications contained explicit content and were part of the disturbing evidence presented during the proceedings.
During the preliminary hearing, Heaton’s legal counsel expressed hope that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) might consider dropping the charge of publishing obscene articles, given his guilty plea to possessing child sexual abuse images. His lawyer stated that Heaton was eager to avoid a trial that would reveal lurid details of his offending and that he was actively attempting to rehabilitate himself by enrolling in courses designed for child sex offenders. Despite these efforts, the CPS decided to proceed with the case, and at the recent sentencing, Heaton admitted to the offence of publishing obscene material.
As a result, Gerard Heaton was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for a period of 12 months. Additionally, he was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years and was mandated to participate in a rehabilitation program aimed at addressing his offending behavior. These measures are intended to protect the community and prevent any future harm.
Heaton’s professional background includes serving as headteacher at Hungerford Primary School from January 2014 until his early retirement in August 2017. Prior to that, he was headteacher at Inkpen Primary School for over eight years, starting in April 2008. His career in education also included roles as deputy headteacher and acting headteacher at Lambourn Primary School beginning in January 2001. In the months leading up to his arrest, he was working as a specialist teacher at Theale Primary School and had also served as a school governor at Kintbury St Mary’s Primary School.
Known as an inspirational educator during his career, Mr. Heaton was a former pupil of John O’Gaunt School in Hungerford. His reputation within the local community was once highly regarded, but these criminal activities have overshadowed his previous contributions. It is also noted that he is no longer an adviser to the TTST, an organization dedicated to supporting young people facing social, emotional, and mental health challenges.
All the primary schools associated with Heaton are publicly funded institutions, with the exception of Lambourn Primary School, which is managed by the Excalibur Academies Trust. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding and the devastating impact of abuse, even among those entrusted with the education and well-being of children.