Ex-Deputy Head pleads guilty to 'obscene' messaging

Friday 24 July 2020

A 42-year-old former primary school teacher, who pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, has now admitted to sending messaging of an 'obscene' nature.

James John Matthews, who was previously Deputy Headteacher at St. John's School, appeared at the Royal Court via video link this morning.

He was accused of four offences: three counts of making indecent images of children under the age of 16 in December 2019 and a single charge of "improper use of a telecommunications system", relating to sending messages "that were of an indecent and obscene nature" on 27 February 2016.

He pleaded guilty to the indecent images charges last week. 

They related to a total of 33 images - each of which in a different category.

One in 'Category A' was described as a "moving image".

Appearing before the Deputy Bailiff this morning, Matthews' lawyer, Advocate Paul Nicholls, entered his guilty plea to the additional messaging charge on his behalf.

Matthews will now be sentenced for the offences on 18 September by the Inferior Number, and will remain in custody until then.

The court ordered that a psychological report be prepared in advance of the sentencing.