Teacher jailed for touching child in Sandwell classroom

Thomas Lawrence was working at a primary school in Sandwell when he abused the child.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard he took the boy to an area of the room where he could not be seen by other pupils or an assistant teacher.

The 28-year-old then touched him inappropriately both ‘under and over his clothing’.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Challinor said: “As a teacher you were trusted to keep this boy safe. In a gross breach of that trust you sexually assaulted him.

“It is aggravated by the fact you touched him in the presence of other children. You must never again be allowed to work with children as a teacher, or in any other capacity.”

Lawrence lived in Lutley Close, Bradmore, Wolverhampton at the time of the offence.

He denied two counts of assaulting a child by touching but was convicted by a jury after a four-day trial in April.

The trial heard Lawrence qualified as a teacher in 2015. His victim reported the incident to his mother, who contacted the school.

Lawrence was arrested and suspended from his teaching position.

Following a check on items seized from his home, a number of images of children were found on a laptop alongside internet searches for child pornography.

There were no images of the child Lawrence touched, or of any pupils at the school he taught at.

At Tuesday’s sentence hearing, Judge Challinor said: “The impact on the boy’s family has been very considerable.

“How can they possibly trust another male teacher bearing in mind what you have done?

“The indecent images found on your computer demonstrate you have an unhealthy interest in small boys in a classroom environment.”

Mr Carl Templar-Vasey, defending Lawrence, said it was his client’s first criminal conviction. He added: “He has lost his employment, which he loved, and he has had to come to terms with that.”

Lawrence, most recently of Hornbeam Close, Selly Oak, Birmingham, was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.