CHELTENHAM MUSIC TEACHER SIMON PINNINGTON SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AND PEEPING TOMS

In November 2005, Simon Pinnington, a 32-year-old music teacher from Cheltenham, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of multiple serious sexual misconducts involving minors. The court heard that Pinnington, who resided at Magnolia Court in Cheltenham, had engaged in sexual activities with a pupil and had taken explicit photographs of another girl without her consent, all while exploiting his position of trust as an educator.

The investigation was initiated after police discovered text messages from Pinnington on a girl’s mobile phone, which raised suspicions about his inappropriate communications with students. Further inquiries revealed that Pinnington had a pattern of misconduct spanning from March 2004 to January 2005, during which he used various means of communication, including internet chat rooms, to contact the girls.

Pinnington admitted to having sexual relations with one of the girls at his home in Cheltenham. Additionally, he confessed to watching another girl perform a strip tease over his webcam, capturing the images and saving them onto his computer. The court also learned that he had set up a hidden camera to secretly film a 23-year-old woman in a spa bath at his residence, an act that further demonstrated his disturbing behavior.

The court proceedings revealed that the police were alerted when the sister of one of the girls noticed a message from Pinnington on her sibling’s phone, which led to his arrest and subsequent charges. Throughout the trial, it was emphasized that Pinnington’s actions exploited the trust placed in him as a teacher and a community figure.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC delivered the sentence, condemning Pinnington for his predatory conduct. He described him as a “peeping Tom” for his voyeuristic activities and expressed concern that the girl he filmed over his webcam may have consented, but emphasized that she should not have been placed in such a vulnerable position. The judge also criticized Pinnington for engaging in sexual activity with another girl, noting that he was a married man and twice her age, which made his actions even more reprehensible.

As part of his sentence, Pinnington was sentenced to three years in prison, with an extended 21-month license period upon release. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, marking a significant legal consequence for his misconduct and a warning to others about the serious repercussions of abusing trust and exploiting minors.