NEIL GARDNER FROM BRADFORD AND WESTCLIFF ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE VIEWING CHILD AND ANIMAL PORNOGRAPHY

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Bradford and Westcliff, Neil Gardner, a former teacher at Belfairs Academy, has been spared a prison sentence after admitting to possessing a large number of indecent images of children and bestiality. The 57-year-old, who now resides in Bradford, appeared before Basildon Crown Court for sentencing, where he received a community order instead of incarceration.

Gardner was found to have viewed hundreds of disturbing images, including explicit photographs of children and animals engaged in sexual acts. The investigation was initiated after his landlady in Westcliff, suspecting he had moved out without settling his rent, decided to check his room. During her search in July of the previous year, she discovered printed images of children and animals involved in sexual activities, which she then reported to the police.

Authorities responded promptly, seizing a laptop and printed materials from the premises. The digital devices contained numerous indecent images, including ten of the most serious Category A images depicting adults abusing young children, along with additional images categorized as B and C, totaling hundreds of photographs. The police also uncovered evidence that Gardner had visited indecent websites, further confirming his engagement with such material.

Following his arrest at his new workplace in Yorkshire, Gardner admitted to viewing the images. During police interviews, he claimed that he was not seeking sexual gratification from these images and suggested he was unaware that his actions were wrong. He acknowledged that it was inappropriate for a teacher to view naked images of children but denied being a paedophile or having an interest in child sex images.

In court, prosecutor Laura Kenyon highlighted the disturbing nature of the case, emphasizing the severity of the images found. Gardner was charged with four counts of possession of indecent images of children and five counts involving images of bestiality, specifically of people engaging in sex acts with dogs and horses.

As part of his sentencing conditions, Gardner is required to sign the sex offenders register for five years, participate in a sexual offenders treatment program, and adhere to restrictions on his computer usage through a court order. The case has raised significant concern among local residents and authorities about the safety and well-being of children and animals, and the importance of vigilant community oversight.

Previously, in February 2017, Gardner had admitted to similar charges after his landlady discovered the images stored in his room. At that time, he was also found to possess images of children involved in sexual acts with animals. The police had seized his laptop, which contained numerous images classified as the most serious Category A, along with hundreds of other images across categories B and C. Gardner, who had spent two years teaching history, sociology, and psychology at Belfairs Academy after a career in pension management, claimed he had traveled to Yorkshire for a job interview and had no history of teaching children as young as those depicted in the images.

During the court proceedings, Gardner confirmed his identity, his new address at the Salvation Army in Leeds Road, Bradford, and entered guilty pleas. His LinkedIn profile describes him as a “flexible, experienced pensions administrator,” listing former employers such as Capita, BP, and Aon. The court has scheduled a pre-sentence report, with Gardner’s sentencing set for March 14, where the full extent of his actions and the appropriate punishment will be determined.