June 2018

Ex-teacher from Crook in prison for second child sex case

A paedophile teacher is starting his second prison sentence for abusing boys – this time an extended term for the protection of the public.

Aaron Ledean, from Crook, County Durham, was branded a danger and was told by a judge that he had destroyed his victim’s life.

The sexual predator was given a custodial term of four years with an extended period of three-and-a-half years on licence after his release.

Ledean was jailed in 2013 for sexually assaulting a teenager in the 1990s, when he was told by a judge: “You took advantage of his age, his inexperience and his, at that stage, undecided sexuality.”

His victim had developed a crush on Ledean, and consented to the activity after being taken to venues in Middlesbrough and introduced to the gay scene.

Ledean, who was in his 20s when the abuse happened, was prosecuted years later because of the boy’s youth at the time.

On Monday, Teesside Crown Court heard that the 46-year-old former science teacher also groomed a 14-year-old in the early 2000s when he lived in a Hartlepool marina flat.

Prosecutor Aisha Wadoodi said Ledean treated the “highly-vulnerable” teenager to cigarettes and frozen kebabs after he confided in him about difficulties he was having at home before abusing him.

In 2006, Ledean was dismissed from his job at a Teesside school following an anonymous tip-off led police to finding thousands of images of child abuse, but he was given a suspended sentence.

His first accuser came forward years later, and Ledean was found guilty after a trial and jailed for four years in 2013.

After being released, he was arrested again last year when another teenager confided in his family and then a psychiatric hospital counsellor that he had been abused.

When he was being interviewed by police, the victim was physically sick as he recounted his ordeal.

Ledean, of The Paddock, Billy Row, pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child.

He was told by Judge Hickey: “The impact statement from the victim makes harrowing reading, revealing as it does the destruction of this young man’s life.

“The offending was a course of conduct which illustrates grooming behaviour, leading on to more and more serious offending against this highly-vulnerable young man.”

May 2018

Former teacher from Crook admits abusing teenager in the 2000s

A paedophile former teacher is facing his second prison sentence for abusing boys.

Aaron Ledean, from Crook, County Durham, was jailed for four years in 2013 for sexually assaulting a teenager in the 1990s.

Yesterday, at Teesside Crown Court, Ledean admitted four further offences against a 14-year-old in the early 2000s.

The 46-year-old was remanded in custody by Judge Stephen Ashurst and will be sentenced next month once background reports looking at his risk are compiled by a probation officer.

In 2008, the former science teacher at a Teesside school dodged prison after being caught with thousands of images of child abuse.

Then in 2013, a court heard that his victim had developed a crush on openly gay Ledean and consented to the consensual activity.

Ledean, who was in his 20s when the abuse happened, was prosecuted years later because of the boy’s youth at the time.

Judge John Walford told him: “You took advantage of his age, his inexperience and his, at that stage, undecided sexuality.

“You had, and still have, a sexual interest in teenage boys of post-pubescent age.”

Ledean, of The Paddock, Billy Row, pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child.

He will be sentenced on June 11.

February 2013

Paedophile science teacher facing jail for indecently assaulting underage boy he took out on ‘dates’

A former school teacher is facing jail after carrying out repeated sexual assaults on an underage boy.  

A jury unanimously convicted Aaron Ledean of three indecent assaults on the teenage boy in the 1990s.

The ex-science teacher already had convictions for downloading almost 4,000 child abuse images.  

Jurors heard how the victim of the assaults – who cannot be named for legal reasons, now an adult – felt ‘euphoria’ as he developed a strong crush on the affable, well-liked and openly gay Ledean.      

He said it was a difficult time in his life as they flirted with one another.

They went to bars in their ‘first date’ in Middlesbrough and engaged in sexual activity in a visit to the cinema and two pre-arranged visits to Ledean’s home.

The boy was ‘devastated’ when Ledean later broke things off.        

Years later, the boy confronted Ledean and said it was inappropriate for him to be in a position of responsibility towards children.

Ledean became a teacher at a Teesside school for several years. The complainant said the events preyed on his mind over the years and he grew to believe what had happened was wrong.          

He underwent counselling and reported matters to police in 2010. Ledean said none of the alleged sexual activity or flirtation took place. 

He said he felt affection but not sexual attraction for the boy and insisted they were just mates

He said he deeply regretted rejecting the boy, after the teenager unexpectedly turned up at his home with a bunch of roses.   

Ledean, 40, had denied the three charges of indecent assault in a trial at Teesside Crown Court.    

But prosecutor Shaun Dodds alleged that Ledean showed he had a sexual interest in young boys.          

Judge John Walford said the alleged sexual activity was consensual, but it constituted indecent assault because of the boy’s age at the time.   

Jurors were told of Ledean’s previous convictions. He was given a suspended prison sentence after he admitted 16 charges of making and one of possessing indecent photographs of children in 2008. 

He had 3,925 images of children on a laptop and discs. Ledean said he was addicted to pornography at the time of downloading the pictures in 2005 to 2007, but there was ‘a world of difference’ between thinking and doing things.                                                 

He told the court he’d been through therapy and counselling and was not attracted to children.       

Judge Walford told Ledean, of Crook, County Durham, that prison was inevitable, remanding him in custody until March 18.

May 2008

Pervert teacher spared prison

A TEACHER who had thousands of pornographic pictures of children on his laptop computer and on discs has walked free from court.

Aaron LeDean was yesterday told by a judge that he would get more help in the community than he would if he was put behind bars. The 36-year-old was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to undergo two years of supervision.

LeDean was also told to sign up to an internet sex offenders’ programme and was given an indefinite ban on working with children.

Police raided the teacher’s quayside flat in Hartlepool in March last year and he handed over a pile of computer discs and his laptop.

A total of 3,925 indecent images and video clips involving children as young as eight were found.

The internet history of the computer also revealed that LeDean had accessed child porn sites and took part in chatroom exchanges.

Teesside Crown Court heard that LeDean had worked at St Michael’s RC Comprehensive School, in Billingham, for seven years.

Barristers for the prosecution and defence, as well as education chiefs, said there was no link between the offences and the school.

Paul Cleasby, mitigating, said LeDean travelled to London after his arrest and took an overdose of paracetamol before sending farewell text messages to his family. He spent six days in a London hospital before being transferred to the University Hospital of Hartlepool for five days and then St Luke’s, in Middlesbrough.

Mr Cleasby said: “It was a significant attempt to take his own life, such is the shame he feels having committed these offences.

“There have never been suggestions there was ever anything improper in his conduct towards any of the people in his care.

“He never departed from the highest standards of propriety when he was in his employment.”

St Michael’s headteacher Joe White said after the case: “I was immediately assured that matters related solely to Mr LeDean’s activities outside school.

“Subsequent checks have confirmed there is no link with the school other than Mr LeDean being a former employee.”

LeDean, of Navigation Point, admitted 16 counts of making indecent images of children between February 2006 and March last year, and possessing 3,909 images and pseudo photographs.

Judge Tony Briggs, who also ordered LeDean to sign on the sex offenders’ register for ten years, said an immediate nine-month sentence would not allow enough time for treatment in prison.

“Be under no illusion that you committed a series of serious offences which, in the normal course of events, would attract immediate custody,” said the judge.

“The fact that you are not going into custody today has been a close-run thing. Take advantage of the chance you have now been given.”