JOHN MEAD, FORMER QEGS TEACHER, SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON IN BLACKBURN

In July 2014, John Mead, a 76-year-old former teacher at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (QEGS) in Blackburn, Lancashire, was sentenced to three years in prison for historical child sex offenses. A jury found Mead guilty of four counts of indecent assault involving three boys under the age of 14, with the offenses occurring in the 1970s during his tenure at the school. Preston Crown Court heard detailed accounts of the abuse, which included inappropriate touching and sexual misconduct during school trips and in the context of organized activities.

The school responded by expressing relief that the case had reached its conclusion, stating: "Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School is glad to hear that the sentence of former physics teacher John Mead to a prison term of three years brings to an end this dreadful matter. We hope that Mead’s victims will feel that justice has been fully served and they may now have the closure they deserve after so long a wait." The school also emphasized its cooperation with police investigations and clarified that Mead’s crimes occurred over four decades ago, with no connection to the current safeguarding standards of the school.

Detective Sergeant Julie Cross from Lancashire Police expressed her satisfaction with the custodial sentence, adding: “She was pleased Mead had been given a custodial sentence and hoped it would bring 'some closure to his victims so that they start to move on with their lives.' She also reiterated the police’s commitment to thoroughly and sensitively investigating all similar allegations.

Mead has been placed on the sex offenders register as part of his sentence.

In a related case in June 2014, Mead was found guilty after a two-and-a-half-hour jury deliberation of abusing pupils on school-organized trips to youth hostels during the 1970s. During the trial, a victim who is now in his 50s reflected on the long-lasting impacts of the abuse, stating: “I feel like I have exorcised some demons.” The court heard that Mead’s motives for organizing trips to locations such as the Lake District included exploiting the boys’ vulnerability.

The jury convicted Mead of four counts of indecent assault related to three pupils. Evidence presented during the trial revealed a pattern of sinister behavior, including him getting into bed with a sleeping pupil, touching him inappropriately, and groping during games meant for entertainment. Another victim recounted how Mead entered the shower with him on multiple occasions during trips, and one admitted he never felt able to report the abuse at the time due to fear of social repercussions.

The judge, Christopher Cornwall, described how the abuse was ‘seared’ into the memories of the victims. One victim explained, “I was shocked, surprised and confused. I felt as if, in some way, it was my fault. I thought it was shameful and as if I had done something wrong. As a child, you trust people in authority. I was aware that something wrong had happened.” Another victim described how the trauma remains “permanent,” with impacts still felt many years later.

Mead, a married father of three and a sufferer of chronic fatigue syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis), was granted bail to facilitate the preparation of a pre-sentence report, including medical assessments and personal impact statements from victims. Despite being acquitted of two additional charges, Judge Cornwall underscored that the conviction on four counts is enough to warrant immediate imprisonment, emphasizing that the passage of time does not diminish the seriousness of his crimes. Mead maintained his innocence throughout the trial, dismissing the allegations as ‘fantasy.’

He has been placed on the sex offenders register, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for July 25 to determine the duration of this registration.