Carly Dear

A former teacher at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls has been sentenced to six years in prison for a series of sexual offences against a child committed more than 15 years ago. Carly Dear, aged 46 and residing in Braemore Close, Thatcham, Berkshire, was convicted following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

Dear, who worked as a PE teacher at the school, began targeting the victim when she was a teenager. The abuse started with private conversations in the changing rooms, where Dear offered sweets and lifts home to build a rapport. Over time, her behaviour escalated to sexual touching and taking the victim to her then-address in Whitstable or to a hotel, where further abuse occurred. Dear groomed the victim, maintaining regular contact and insisting that the activities were normal.

• Inciting sexual activity by a person in a position of trust
• Four counts of indecent assault
• Sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust

The victim reported the abuse to Kent Police in 2018, prompting an investigation into these non-recent offences. Dear was arrested and charged accordingly. The trial took place in October 2021, where the jury found her guilty on the above counts but not guilty on one count of sexual assault. Sentencing occurred on 14 January 2022, with Dear receiving a six-year custodial sentence and being placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Detective Constable Hannah Crittenden, the investigating officer from Kent Police, commented: "Carly Dear took advantage of a child for her own selfish desire and the victim’s memories of growing up will be affected by what Dear has done. I hope the victim recognises that she was extremely brave in speaking up but did the right thing by doing so. I hope that she will now focus on the future, unafraid and knowing that she was believed and Dear is facing the consequences of her own illegal actions." This case underscores the long-term impact of such abuses and the importance of victims coming forward, as reported by Kent Live on 20 January 2022.