PAUL WORRALL FROM DONCASTER AND OLDHAM JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a case that has shocked the communities of Doncaster and Oldham, a former teacher named Paul Worrall has been sentenced to prison following his involvement in serious child sex offences. The incident, which came to light in August 2014, led to Worrall being convicted of multiple charges related to his inappropriate conduct with a minor, although he was acquitted of the attempted rape of a 15-year-old girl.

Worrall, aged 31 at the time, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years. The court proceedings revealed that Worrall had previously admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a child and inciting a child to participate in sexual acts. Despite these admissions, a jury at Sheffield Crown Court found him not guilty of the more serious charges of attempted rape and sexual activity with a minor, which involved the same girl.

The trial lasted three days, during which Worrall, who resided in Oldham, Lancashire, openly expressed remorse for his actions. He acknowledged that his relationship with the underage girl had let down his friends, family, and former fiancée. Worrall stated, “I know that everything that happened between me and her shouldn’t have happened,” indicating his awareness of the gravity of his misconduct.

Worrall, who previously served as a history teacher at Hall Cross Academy in Doncaster for four years, vehemently denied the charges of attempted rape and sexual activity with a minor. He insisted that there was no coercion involved, claiming, “There’s been no need for me to compel her to do anything, because she was always willing.”

Legal restrictions prevent the victim from being publicly identified. During the court proceedings, Worrall admitted that his relationship with the girl provided him with a sense of excitement. He also remarked that, at his age, girls like her did not see him in a romantic light, which he found appealing. The court heard that Worrall had engaged in inciting sexual activity through text messages and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

Prosecutor David Hall described Worrall’s conduct as grooming, asserting that he deliberately set out to sexualize their interactions from the outset. He emphasized that Worrall’s actions were driven by lust rather than love or genuine affection, stating, “You encouraged an atmosphere where sexuality was out there. It wasn’t love or romance, it was just good old fashioned lust.”

In his defense, Andrew Smith praised Worrall for his early guilty plea and for providing police with a detailed account of his relationship with the girl. The investigation was initiated in August 2014 after the girl’s sister discovered messages exchanged between Worrall and her sibling. Detective Constable Laura Jones highlighted the impact of Worrall’s actions, saying, “His actions had a huge impact on the victim’s life.” She also reaffirmed the police’s commitment to supporting victims and pursuing justice for sexual offences.

Following the revelations, Worrall was dismissed from his teaching position at Hall Cross Academy, which is the largest school in Doncaster, with over 2,000 pupils and 500 sixth form students. The school’s principal, Pippa Dodgshon, issued a statement through Doncaster Council, stating, “As we have previously stated, this unique case refers to a former colleague.” She reassured the community that the academy and local authority had robust procedures in place to handle such incidents and to protect students.

Overall, the case underscores the serious consequences of inappropriate conduct involving minors and highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and educational institutions to combat such offences and safeguard young people.