A former primary school teacher has been banned from the profession after indecent images of children were found on his laptop.

Daniel Jones, 37, was working at Pelham Primary School when he was arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children. 

He later pleaded guilty to the offences but avoided prison time. 

The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) has now decided to ban Mr Jones from the profession indefinitely. 

A spokesperson for Pelham Primary School said: "Daniel Jones’ crimes are abhorrent, and we think of all victims of these appalling abuses. 

"However, we would like to stress that no child from Pelham Primary School was involved, and none of the offences took place in the school - nor in any other educational setting. 

"The safeguarding of our children is absolutely paramount. Daniel Jones was immediately suspended from school upon his arrest.

"And concurrently to the police investigation, the school carried out its own internal disciplinary proceedings, and asked the local authority to carry out a full safeguarding audit.

"The local authority found the safeguarding practices of the school to be totally robust. 

"Pelham School fully supports the outcome of the Teaching Regulation Authority which prevents Daniel Jones from ever teaching again.”

The TRA report states that on October 27, 2021 Mr Jones’ laptop was seized by police. 

Officers found a number of indecent images of children on his laptop and on November 1, 2021, he was arrested. 

Mr Jones resigned from his position at the school on January 7, 2022. 

On November 23, 2023, Mr Jones pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. 

At Southwark Crown Court, he was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 21 months, meaning he was no required to serve any of the sentence in prison. 

He was also ordered to undertake drug rehabilitation treatment and 80 hours of unpaid work. 

A 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) was made and he will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years. 

A TRA panel noted that Mr Jones said he is overwhelmed with guilty and acknowledges the harm he has caused. 

But the panel concluded: “In the light of the panel’s findings against Mr Jones, which involved a conviction for making indecent or pseudo-photographs of children, there was a strong public interest consideration in the safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils and the protection of other members of the public. 

“Similarly, the panel considered that public confidence in the profession could be seriously weakened if conduct such as that found against Mr Jones were not treated with the utmost seriousness when regulating the conduct of the profession. 

“The panel decided that a strong public interest consideration in declaring proper standards of conduct in the profession was also present as the conduct found against Mr Jones was outside that which could reasonably be tolerated.” 

Mr Jones will be banned from teaching in England indefinitely and cannot apply for the restoration of his eligibility to teach at any time.