LONDON TEACHER PAUL SHINN JAILED FOR CHILD SEXUAL OFFENSES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
A London-based teacher, Paul Shinn, has been sentenced to prison for grooming and sexually abusing two children over an eight-year period in the Middle East.Shinn, aged 49, was employed at an English school in the United Arab Emirates from 2004 until his dismissal in March 2019, following allegations of child sexual abuse.
The school reported these allegations to the National Crime Agency (NCA), which arrested Shinn after he returned to the UK the following month.
Investigations revealed that Shinn began grooming two children, ages eight and nine, by earning their trust and encouraging them to spend time with him through gifts and trips.
His abuse spanned eight years, during which he sexually assaulted his victims multiple times, took indecent photographs, and attempted to sexualize them.
He forced the children to watch sex scenes from films, exposed them to pornography, and showed them condoms.
Shinn faced six counts of child sexual abuse under section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act, which permits the prosecution of British nationals for offenses committed abroad.
On 28 January 2022, he was convicted by a jury at Kingston Crown Court of five charges: sexual assault of a child under 13 (2011-2015), two counts of sexual activity with a child (2016-2019), and two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act (2010-2017).
The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the sixth charge, which involved sexual activity with a child over 13.
Today, at the same court, Shinn was sentenced to ten years in prison and an additional two years on licence.
He was also placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Ian Truby of the NCA stated: "Shinn positioned himself as a caring and trustworthy teacher in order to befriend children and their families.
He then abused their trust in the most horrific way; through the systemic grooming and sexual assault of these children over a number of years." He also emphasized that Shinn believed he could escape justice by returning to the UK, but the NCA’s collaboration with international partners ensures that British nationals who commit crimes overseas are held accountable.
