SEAN MEIER, TAMWORTH TEACHING ASSISTANT, SENTENCED TO 14 MONTHS IN PRISON

In July 2014, Sean Meier, a teaching assistant from Tamworth, was sentenced to 14 months in prison after admitting to inappropriate conduct involving a 13-year-old girl. Meier had initially befriended the girl following a chance encounter with her mother, who was an acquaintance from his past, and offered to assist her with her studies.

During a visit to his former residence in Tamworth, Meier kissed the girl on the lips and told her she was “the daughter he never had,” according to court reports. Prosecutor Miss Michelle Heeley stated that Meier had instructed the girl not to tell anyone about their interactions. However, her mother became suspicious after noticing disturbing comments from Meier on her daughter’s Facebook page.

The girl confided in her mother about Meier’s behavior, prompting her to confront him. Following this, police were called. During their investigation, officers examined Meier’s computer and discovered over 40 indecent images of children, with five classified at the serious level four.

The 48-year-old defendant, now residing on Dukes Road, Dordon, pleaded guilty to charges including sexual activity with a child, inciting sexual activity, and possessing indecent images of children. Judge Mark Eades, presiding at Stafford Crown Court, emphasized the breach of trust involved, stating, “You were a school teaching assistant and you knew that in that position you had a high responsibility for the children in your care. You knew that they look up to you, often as a father-like figure and a person in authority. They place great trust in you, as do their parents, and you know if you abuse that trust, it would be a betrayal.

“You got in to conversation with [the girl] that caused or incited her to engage in sexual activity and you did indulge in sexual activity with her, all the time knowing it was a gross breach of trust.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Meier was banned indefinitely from working with children and was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. It was also revealed that Meier’s own son had seen his father kneeling at the girl’s feet on one occasion, and that he had sent her a Facebook message stating, “if you want to touch me, that’s fine.” When questioned by authorities, Meier acknowledged that his behavior was inappropriate and claimed he had been providing safeguarding lessons to children.

Defending him, Mr. Tom Walkling argued that Meier was a man with potential for rehabilitation, stating, “He is beginning to acknowledge that what he’s done is wrong. He is a low risk of re-offending.”