April 2011

Trainee teacher sexually exploited 13-year-old schoolgirl

A trainee teacher who met a 13-year-old schoolgirl while on work experience at her school and went on to sexually exploit her walked free from court.

James Maddams was 18 when he began communicating with the child online after his placement at Cams Hill School in Fareham had ended. He persuaded her to undress in front of a webcam before inviting her to his home, where he engaged in sexual activity with her.

The girl later told police: “I feel like he just abused the fact that I liked him.”

Maddams, a former pupil at the school, had been studying at South Downs College with the aim of becoming a PE teacher. The court heard that during his placement he sometimes worked alongside PE teachers and at other times worked alone with children.

Prosecutor Matthew Lawson said Maddams had breached the trust placed in him. His offending came to light after a teacher heard a rumour and school staff contacted police.

Maddams, who was 20 by the time he appeared in court, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. The offence at his home took place in December 2008.

Despite his guilty pleas, Maddams was spared prison. Judge Graham White imposed a two-year community order, including two years of probation supervision and 175 hours of unpaid work.

The judge also refused a prosecution application for a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. The proposed order would have restricted Maddams from using social networking sites and having contact with girls under 16, apart from in circumstances such as shops.

Maddams was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years.