JOHN HOWELS FROM BROMLEY SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In December 2002, a significant case involving the conviction of John Howells, a music teacher from Bromley, drew widespread attention and brought relief to many parents and community members. The case centered around allegations of serious sexual misconduct involving young girls and the possession of explicit material on his personal computer.

John Howells, a 52-year-old resident of Southlands Road in Bromley, was accused of indecently assaulting five female pupils aged between nine and 12. The parent of one of the victims, who chose to remain anonymous to protect his own daughter, expressed his relief at seeing Howells sentenced to prison. He emphasized the potential long-term harm that such abuse could inflict on the young girls involved.

Investigations by the police uncovered disturbing evidence, including approximately 50,000 images of child pornography stored on Howells’ computer. Authorities revealed that Howells used his role as a music teacher at a private school and at students’ homes as a pretext to carry out inappropriate physical contact. The parent recounted that Howells would often email pupils late into the night and even made personal calls to their families. One Christmas, he reportedly called a family to ask if their daughter could attend a singing lesson, despite the school being closed, indicating his obsessive behavior.

Further allegations detailed how Howells would exploit his position to touch the girls under the guise of singing lessons. He advised one victim not to disclose the incidents, warning her that others might misunderstand the situation. One young girl told police that Howells had come up behind her and unfastened her bra, an account that added to the severity of the charges.

Despite the serious allegations, Howells maintained a facade of normalcy in the community. He was involved in youth activities at Hayes Lane Baptist Church, where he helped run a youth club twice a week. During the trial, Reverend David Hircock, the church minister, testified that the children had always appeared happy with Howells and that he was actively involved in church activities, which painted a picture of a trusted community figure.

Howells initially denied the charges but later admitted to the offences. The court proceedings included the presentation of evidence showing the extensive collection of explicit images on his computer. The jury was shown the tens of thousands of photographs depicting naked children, which played a crucial role in the conviction.

In sentencing, Croydon Crown Court Judge Cedric Joseph sentenced Howells to 18 months in prison. The judge condemned his actions, stating, “You have lost your employment and brought total disgrace on yourself. You clearly have an unhealthy preoccupation with young females, but you seem to have exercised some control over your feelings in the past.” The judge emphasized that Howells’ breach of trust as a teacher was egregious and that his conduct was a gross violation of the trust placed in him by the children and their parents.

As part of his sentence, Howells was banned for life from working with children. He will also be subject to a three-year license upon release and must register as a sex offender for the next ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to protect the community from further harm.