A depraved primary school teacher today admitted a catalogue of horrific abuse against his own pupils – who he filmed, sexually touched and attempted to rape on school grounds.
Vile Nigel Leat, 50, was arrested at the school by plain-clothed officers in December last year after a ”distraught” schoolgirl broke down and told her parents he had abused her.
Police launched an investigation involving 30 officers which revealed dozens of horrific assaults by Leat on schoolgirls as young as SIX.
Today Leat, who had been teaching for more than 20 years, admitted 32 sex attacks against five schoolgirls on school property over a four year period.
Leat spoke only to reply ”guilty” at Bristol Crown Court as a total of 36 offences – including counts of attempted rape, voyerism and extreme pornography – were put to him.
The disgraced teacher, who wore dark glasses, a blue shirt and brown zip-up top, showed no emotion as he clearly answered to each count.
He admitted sexually touching the girls, referred to only as Child A, Child B, Child C, Child D and Child E, from September 2006 to July 2010.
Leat, who lives in Bristol, pleaded guilty to possessing more than 30,000 indecent images of children – including 61 pictures and 21 movies at the most serious level, level 5.
He also admitted having a photograph of a child aged between six and seven performing oral sex on an animal.
The teacher also pleaded guilty to filming one victim in a ”private act” without their consent.
He admitted inciting a schoolgirl aged as young as between six and seven to perform oral sex on him and attempting to force another girl to perform the same sex act.
It is believed all offences took place on the property of a school in North Somerset, which cannot be named for legal reasons.
All of the sexual offences were committed against five girls under the age of 13.
After accepting Leat’s guilty pleas, His Honour Judge Neil Ford QC listed the case for sentencing on June 10 at Bristol Crown Court.
Police who snared Leat revealed they hoped his guilty plea would help reduce the young victims’ suffering.
Avon and Somerset Police Head of Public Protection Superintendent Geoff Wessell said: ”The pleas entered by Nigel Leat are welcomed by both the investigative team and the families of those vulnerable victims who have endured abuse at the hands of this man.
”These pleas mean the children who have come to harm will not have to endure a stressful trial, reliving the moments Nigel Leat abused them and retained a hold on them.
”Nigel Leat was placed in a position of trust as a teacher in the North Somerset area, this trust was clearly breached when he subjected young girls in his care to repeated sexual abuse.
”For a number of years Leat believed he had got away with these crimes, crimes that will leave his victims with both emotional and mental scars.
”We would like to thank the families who have come forward to police to report this abuse. Their courage and support has brought this man before the courts
”We now await sentence.”
Head of the CPS Complex Casework Unit, Ann Reddrop, added: ”Nigel Leat admitted a number of extremely serious offences.
”This was a gross breach of trust involving the abuse of children who were, at the time, in his care.
”We worked closely with Avon and Somerset Constabulary from a very early stage to ensure a successful prosecution.
”We reviewed an enormous amount of evidence and it is testament to the hard work of the whole prosecution team that when presented with that evidence Nigel Leat had no choice but to plead guilty.
”We take crimes of this nature very seriously and will prosecute wherever there is sufficient evidence to do so. This type of behaviour will not be tolerated by the justice system and offenders will be brought to justice.”
Charges in full:
1 x attempted rape child under 13
8 x sexual assault child under 13 by penetration
23 x sexual assault child under 13 no penetration
1 x causing or inciting child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
1 x voyeurism)
1 x possession of indecent photographs of children
1 x possession of extreme pornographic images ENDS
