Richard Whitaker

Richard Whitaker, a 54-year-old former school teacher from Leeds, has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple offences involving indecent images of children.

Whitaker appeared at Leeds Crown Court where he admitted making 19 Category A images (the most serious type), 12 Category B images, and 114 Category C images in total. He also admitted distributing Category C images. The offences came to light following an investigation by the Wakefield Child Safeguarding Team.

The court heard that Whitaker had left his teaching position at a Leeds school just one week before his arrest in July 2024. He was described as being of no fixed abode at the time of sentencing.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Whitaker was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders register for a period of ten years.

Detective Constable Andrew Williamson of the Wakefield Child Safeguarding Team said: "We understand that this sentencing may cause some concern, particularly for parents of pupils at schools where Whitaker taught. The majority of Whitaker's offending relates to him downloading images made by others. He did admit taking a number of Category C images of a child and that child's family are already fully aware of this investigation."

The case was prosecuted at Leeds Crown Court and investigated by West Yorkshire Police.