Paedophile science teacher, 55, is found guilty of grooming a pupil
Paedophile science teacher, 55, is found guilty of grooming and sexually assaulting a pupil, 15, he taught and possessing child pornography after Google reported him to the NCA
- Mark Langford, 55, was arrested after Google filed a report to the UK’s NCA
- The teacher abused one of his former pupils at a school in Lowestoft, Suffolk
A Suffolk science teacher has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 15-year-old schoolgirl after Google reported him to the UK’s National Crime Agency.
Mark Langford, 55, taught at secondary schools across Norfolk and Suffolk from 1996 until just after his arrest in November 2021.
The teacher was later discovered to be in possession of 2,718 indecent images of children after Google filed a report to the NCA.
Investigators subsequently revealed he groomed and sexually abused one of his former pupils at a school in Lowestoft, Suffolk between 2004 and 2006.
Langford yesterday pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and indecently assaulting a child at Ipswich Crown Court.
Science teacher Mark Langford, 55, (pictured) admitted sexually abusing one of his former pupils at a school in Lowestoft, Suffolk
His arrest came after Google filed a report of a user possessing child abuse material on their platform to the NCA in November 2021.
Langford was discovered to be the user of and possessor of such material following an investigation by the NCA.
Police immediately moved to arrest the science teacher at his former home in the market town of Beccles, in Suffolk.
Forensics later officers discovered 2,718 indecent images of children on five of the teacher’s devices.
Police also recovered chat logs in which Langford spoke with like minded individuals about sexual abuse.
These conversations included discussions about child rape and conversations in which he encouraged others to sexually abuse their children.
The teacher also talked with others about the levels of pain and humiliation that needed to be inflicted on women and children to satisfy his sexual demands.
He also gave tips to others on ways to access child pornography and accessed cloud storage platforms used by paedophiles to trade child sex abuse images.
Langford was dismissed from his job in January 2022
Further investigations revealed Langford had groomed and sexually abused a 15-year-old pupil he taught at a school in Lowestoft between 2004 and 2006.
NCA officers subsequently recovered a letter Langford wrote to the victim in April 2022, instructing her on what to say if the NCA officers questioned her.
‘Before you talk to him, please remember that it is his job to convict me – please do not give him any accidental ammunition against me,’ Langford’s letter said.
‘You can tell him you know I’m a porn addict, and that I was arrested for having indecent images of children.’
‘Don’t forget the ‘arrested for’ bit – don’t say I did it, or that I confessed to you, because that might drag you into court as a witness. I don’t know if it will, but that’s not a question I dare ask him.’
Prior to being arrested, the teacher told officers: ‘It’s all in there, I know what you’re looking for, I’ve made a mistake and ruined everything’
Langford appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on July 10 where he pleaded guilty to charges including indecent assault, indecency with a child, and perverting the course of justice.
He also pleaded guilt to making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornographic images.
‘Mark Langford grossly abused his position of trust. In short, his offending was despicable and manipulative,’ said Holly Triggs, NCA Operations Manager.
‘This was evident from the way he attempted to coerce his victim into lying about his offending and the explicit conversations he had with other paedophiles online.
‘The NCA will continue to protect children by identifying those offenders who pose the highest risk and ensuring they are held accountable for their actions.’
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