Rhian DeSouza

Rhian DeSouza, a 43-year-old head teacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Gellionnen in Clydach, near Swansea, has been sentenced for making indecent photographs of a child. DeSouza, who had been in her position for several months prior to the incident coming to light, admitted to two charges related to the creation of indecent images at Swansea Crown Court.

The court heard that the subject of the photographs was a 16-year-old girl whom DeSouza had known since she was 13 years old. Importantly, the girl was not a pupil at DeSouza's school or any other institution where she had taught. After the girl reached the age of 16, the two entered into a consensual sexual relationship. During this period, the girl took two intimate photographs of herself and sent them to DeSouza, who subsequently erased them from her phone. Despite the relationship being lawful under the age of consent, possessing such images was deemed illegal, as highlighted by Judge Paul Thomas, who described it as an 'anomaly of the law' that DeSouza could engage in a lawful sexual relationship but not retain intimate photographs.

The case came to light in June when the girl's mother discovered the relationship and reported it to the police. Following the report, DeSouza was suspended from her job at the school. The school's governors promptly informed parents via letter, assuring them that the matter did not involve any current or former pupils at Ysgol Gymraeg Gellionnen or any other school where DeSouza had worked. An acting head teacher was appointed to ensure the school's operations continued without disruption.

In a joint statement, the school and Swansea Council stated: 'As soon as we were made aware of the investigation by police she was suspended and remains so. An acting head teacher is in place and support is being given to ensure there is no impact on the day to day running of the school.' The sentencing took place at Swansea Crown Court, where DeSouza received a two-year community order, comprising 25 days of rehabilitation training and 200 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, she was required to sign the sex offenders register for five years and was issued with a sexual harm prevention order.

This case, reported by the BBC on 24 August 2018, underscores the legal distinctions between consensual relationships and the possession of indecent images involving minors, even when the individuals involved are above the age of consent for sexual activity.