SHAUN BROWN OF ST HELENS EXPOSED IN HORRIFIC SCHOOLGIRL GROOMING SCANDAL

In July 2016, a disturbing case of grooming and sexual misconduct involving a high school teacher from St Helens came to light, shocking the local community and raising serious concerns about safeguarding in educational institutions. The incident was uncovered thanks to the vigilance of a bus driver who noticed suspicious behavior involving a schoolgirl and an adult male, leading to a series of revelations that culminated in the teacher’s conviction.

It was an ordinary morning when the bus driver, operating a route through Horwich, observed a teenage girl, dressed in her school uniform and heavily made up, disembark from her bus. The girl then entered a car with an older man, which immediately raised suspicions. The bus driver’s concerns prompted her to report the incident to the police after witnessing this pattern of meetings occur on multiple occasions. The repeated encounters between the girl and the man, who was later identified as Shaun Brown, an assistant head of mathematics at a school located on Rivington Lane, prompted a police investigation.

Authorities traced the girl through her school uniform, which identified her as a student at Rivington and Blackrod School. When questioned, she initially claimed that her meetings were with a friend who worked in Chorley. However, a deeper investigation into her mobile phone revealed a troubling exchange of over 3,000 text messages between her and Shaun Brown. Prosecutor Clare Thomas detailed that many of these messages were sexually explicit and indicated plans for the girl to visit Brown’s home during the Easter holidays, while his wife was away. This evidence painted a clear picture of grooming and manipulation.

The court heard that Brown had been spending time alone with the girl, initially under the guise of helping her with her studies. Their meetings began in his car before school hours, and over time, the girl admitted that her feelings for him had grown. They exchanged mobile numbers and met in his car for three weeks, sharing kisses and developing a relationship that was both inappropriate and illegal. Over a two-month period, until his arrest, the pair exchanged more than 3,000 text messages, many of which contained sexually suggestive content. Brown’s messages, some of which referred to the girl as his “princess,” included statements like, “The amount of things I am risking proves you are my entire life,” illustrating the depth of his emotional manipulation.

When Brown became aware that police were questioning the girl, he contacted the school’s deputy head teacher, Gillian Bentham, and admitted his involvement with the pupil. Following this confession, he was instructed not to return to the school. The girl, meanwhile, expressed that her experience had profoundly affected her, leaving her feeling “dirty and worthless.” She now perceives all men as potential predators, a consequence of the grooming she endured. Prosecutor Clare Thomas emphasized that the girl’s innocence had been exploited, and that Brown, in a position of trust and authority, had preyed on her vulnerability.

Shaun Brown, a resident of Measham Close, St Helens, pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust, and inciting such activity. During the court proceedings, he was visibly emotional, weeping in the dock as his defense lawyer, Martin Pizzey, described the devastating impact of his actions. Pizzey highlighted that Brown’s reputation, career, and six-year marriage had been destroyed by his misconduct. He explained that Brown did not initially set out to pursue a relationship with the girl but lost control, citing personal family tragedies, including the death of his father, as contributing factors.

Judge Richard Gioserano sentenced Brown to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. The judge described Brown’s conduct as “shameful” and noted that his actions had caused significant psychological and emotional harm to the girl. The judge pointed out that Brown’s relationship with the girl was characterized by planning and grooming, exploiting his authority and trust. Although the judge considered immediate imprisonment, he ultimately decided that Brown’s punishment had already been severe, given the loss of his career and marriage, and that the public’s safety could be better assured through supervised rehabilitation.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Brown was ordered to complete 40 days of rehabilitation activities, participate in a program requirement, and pay a victim surcharge of £100. A sexual harm prevention order was also issued, banning him from any contact with the girl indefinitely. Furthermore, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and prohibited from working with children or vulnerable adults. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding and the devastating consequences when trust is betrayed by those in positions of responsibility.