JAMES SHAWLEY, FORMER PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADTEACHER IN LINCOLN, SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES
James Shawley, a once highly regarded primary school headteacher in West Pinchbeck near Spalding, was sentenced this afternoon (Friday) to four and a half years in prison at Lincoln Crown Court.Shawley, who led St Bartholomew's Primary School from 2016 until his suspension following his December 2019 arrest, was caught in a police sting operation after contacting a covert officer posing as a 14-year-old boy.
He denied four charges related to his online communications but was found guilty by a jury at the conclusion of a three-day trial.
Shawley, 45, has been placed on the sex offenders register for life and is prohibited from working with children indefinitely.
Additionally, he received a 15-year sexual harm prevention order.
In court, Shawley was described as an "outstanding" headteacher who had improved standards at St Bartholomew's as well as at two previous schools where he served as assistant head.
The judge, Lady Justice Catarina Sjolin Knight, stated that she viewed Shawley's defense as "wholly implausible" and emphasized that, as both a headteacher and football coach, he understood the importance of safeguarding children.
The court heard that Shawley continued to receive his salary while suspended, with pay only ending on the day of his conviction.
Besides his teaching career, Shawley was a qualified FA coach, coaching Spalding Under 11s and previously coaching Bourne Town Juniors.
During sentencing, the judge remarked, "You have lost your good character, your career and your hobby.
That is all down to you.
Your life when you come out of prison will be very different." In mitigation, Marion Smullen argued that the communication was with a fictitious boy, not an actual 14-year-old.
She praised Shawley's 22 years of exemplary teaching, his role in elevating the schools he led to outstanding status, and his passion for football coaching.
She noted that Shawley had sold his home to fund his legal defense and is living with his mother.
The jury was told that Shawley sent sexually explicit messages and arranged to meet the undercover officer at a cinema in Huntingdon, intending to have sex.
Shawley explained that he believed the profile was of an adult pretending to be younger, since he thought no one over 18 would readily disclose their age on a dating site.
He testified, "I thought he was an adult pretending to be younger.
I didn't believe he was 14.
I didn't believe anybody of 14 on an adult app would declare their age so soon in the conversation.
I thought it was a wind-up." He was charged with attempting to incite a child to engage in sexualactivity, attempting to have sex with a child, and attempting to facilitate or arrange a child sex offence, with offences occurring between December 8 and December 23, 2019.
The jury reached guilty verdicts after just over 90 minutes of deliberation.
Detective Inspector Paul Coleman expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "I am really pleased that this has been brought to a successful conclusion, especially given the impact on the school and the community.
I would like to sincerely thank the officers involved in this case whose diligence has led to today’s result." He emphasized that although no children were harmed in this instance, online grooming and child exploitation are serious issues affecting children across the county, with devastating consequences.
