A former teacher from North Wales has been charged with a series of sexual offences involving children.
In August 2023 a former teacher from Ellesmere Port, Simon Clarke, was initially arrested as part of an investigation by Cheshire Police’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team.
Following this, the 46-year-old was released on conditional bail with a number of safeguarding measures put in place.
After a detailed investigation, Cheshire Constabulary was authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to charge Clarke with 29 offences, which are as follows:
- One count of inciting a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity
- Two counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity
- Two counts of inciting a child under 16 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity
- 21 counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child under 16
- Making 26 indecent images of children of Category A
- Make 29 indecent images of children of Category B
- Make 81 indecent images of children of Category C
These charges all concern 26 victims under the age of 16, and they are alleged to have occurred between November 2016 and April 2023.
Clarke made an appearance at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday the 28th of February, after which he was released on conditional bail. The next stage will be his appeal at Chester Crown Court on Friday the 28th of March.
A reminder has been issued to all concerned by Cheshire Constabulary and the CPS that criminal proceedings against Clarke are now active and that he has a right to a fair trial.
During this time it is extremely important that there should be no reporting commentary or sharing of information online which could prejudice these proceedings in any way.
Further reading
Sexual abuse – abuseclaims.co.uk
Institutional abuse claims – Oakwood Solicitors
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