RICHARD DIXON ESCAPES JAIL IN RETFORD AFTER JUDGE RECONSIDERS SENTENCE

In August 2008, a teacher from Retford who committed sexual offences against two schoolgirls avoided imprisonment after a judge altered his initial sentencing. Richard Dixon, aged 47, who had resigned from Elizabethan High School, was originally sentenced by Judge Jonathon Teare to three years in prison. However, just ten minutes later, the judge reconsidered and changed the sentence.

Following a private consultation with counsel, Judge Teare explained, "I was reminded of an earlier statement where I said I would not close the door on Dixon." As a result, the judge reduced the sentence to two years, suspended for two years, along with supervision conditions. Despite this adjustment, Judge Teare later stated that he believed the original sentence was appropriate.

Dixon, who was living in Worksop and was bailed to an undisclosed address, admitted to indecently assaulting one girl and encouraging another to view sexually explicit material. Both victims, aged 13, were not students at his school, where he served as a head of year.

The offences included an assault on the first girl in 1995, and additional misconduct occurred in 2005, as noted by prosecutor Michael Bauty. In mitigation, it was highlighted that Dixon had a history of good character and that he would be unable to work in his profession again.

Judge Teare commented to Dixon, "You are a school teacher and know where the boundaries are set," emphasizing the seriousness of his misconduct. An order was also made preventing Dixon from working with children, and he was placed on the sex offender register for seven years.