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Paedophile headteacher Daniel Chapman at 'risk of repeat' offending
By Ellis Whitehouse, Senior Reporter, Echo
29th Aug
A PAEDOPHILE headteacher is at “risk of repeat” offending and could put pupils at risk, a teaching tribunal has found.
Daniel Chapman, now known as Alexander Martin, has been banned from teaching for life following his imprisonment for having child abuse images on his computers.
Chapman was the former headteacher of Hilltop Infants School in Wickford.
The 33-year-old was found to have dozens of indecent images of children when police raided his home in Meadgate Avenue, Chelmsford, including several in category A, the most serious kind.
He was jailed for two and a half years in November 2019, and the Teaching Regulation Agency has barred him from the profession for life.
Now, the full report of the tribunal has revealed the panel were deeply concerned that Chapman may offend again.
The report said: “Mr Martin appeared to be remorseful and there was some evidence that he was ashamed of his actions, there was no clear evidence of insight in this case.
“There was no clear evidence of insight. It was apparent that Mr Martin (Chapman) did not plead guilty at the first available opportunity and appeared to still contest aspects of the charges against him.”
Decision maker John Knowles said: “The panel found that Mr Martin’s ‘actions were deliberate, his actions involved harm and abuse to children and undoubtedly had a detrimental impact on the school, its pupils and the local community’.
“In my judgement, the lack of insight means that there is some risk of repetition of this behaviour and this puts pupils at risk.”
Det Con Nick Riley, from Essex Police, said at the time of the investigation that Chapman had been using messenger apps to send and receive images of child abuse and also exchange messages.
The panel added: “While no doubt had been cast upon his abilities as an educator and there was evidence he was very well regarded, given the nature of the allegations, in this case the panel concluded that there was not a strong public interest consideration in retaining him in the profession.”
Chapman has also been barred from applying to have his teaching licence restored.
Good! It shouldn't have even been questioned.
Teacher killed in Sask. murder-suicide was leaving
abusive husband, family says
Charlene Graham's family says she was shot and killed by her estranged husband
Bonnie Allen · CBC News ·
Posted: Sep 01, 2021 6:00 AM CT
Charlene Graham, 34, was shot by her estranged husband before he turned the gun on himself Monday afternoon in a Meadow Lake, Sask. campground, according to her family. She was a teacher and mother of two who loved to sing karaoke. (Charlene Graham/Facebook)
Warning: This story contains disturbing details
Della Duquette will never forget her younger sister's dying words: "Go! Sis, it's OK, I'm going to die."
It was an order for Duquette to run for her life, she said, as her sister's estranged husband pointed a rifle at them Monday afternoon in a campground in Meadow Lake, Sask.
"He shot her right in front of me," Duquette said. "I heard her words telling me to go, so I ran, hoping he wouldn't shoot me in the back."
Duqette's sister, Charlene Graham, a 34-year-old teacher and mother of two from the nearby Flying Dust First Nation, died outside a camper-trailer in the small city of just over 5,000, about 300 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.
Charlene's estranged husband, Delane Graham, 34, from Thunderchild First Nation, south of Meadow Lake, had been living in the campground since the couple split about a month ago. He was found dead inside the same camper-trailer, in what RCMP have described as a homicide-suicide.
In a news release Tuesday, Meadow Lake RCMP described the scene as a domestic incident, saying a 34-year-old man took his own life. They said a 34-year-old woman was found dead outside a camper-trailer when police arrived. A third person, a woman, received minor injuries.
Duquette had rushed to the campground that day to try to save her sister's life. Charlene's family says she was trying to leave an abusive relationship. It's a period of time that is well-documented as being the highest risk for domestic homicide.
They say they are sharing their family's tragic story to drive home that domestic violence can often turn deadly — and that no one should assume it won't.
'She lost her light'
Charlene and Delane started dating right out of high school. Later, they both graduated with teaching degrees and started a family. They had two children.
Charlene's older sister, Roxanne Aubichon, and her mother, Mary Morin, said Delane began to isolate Charlene from her family, control her movements and manipulate her emotionally.
This is often a sign of drug use, even just marijuana can result in paranoia or schizophrenia.
"She was always so vibrant and happy and healthy. When he started abusing her, she just wasn't the same anymore. She lost her light," said Aubichon.
The family says Charlene had tried to leave Delane several times over their 16 years together but would always be pulled back to him.
The couple separated about a month ago. Charlene stayed in her house on Flying Dust First Nation, her home community, and Delane moved into a camper in Meadow Lake campground.
When Charlene started dating someone, her sister predicted trouble.
"She looked so happy. And then I looked at my husband and I said, 'You know, Delane will never let her be happy. He's obsessed with her. He's crazy.... I just had a bad feeling," Aubichon said.
A call for help
Della Duquette visited her sister Sunday. Charlene told her that Delane was using cocaine and crystal meth and threatening to shoot her and her family if she truly left him.
"She said, 'Sister, if I ever don't answer my phone ... please come find me because he has me,'" Duquette recalls Charlene telling her.
As a teacher, Delane Graham was widely recognized for his work in land-based education and Cree culture. His estranged wife's family said he was controlling and jealous at home. (Delane Graham/Facebook)
The next day, Charlene started a new job at the on-reserve elementary school. She came to work that morning, but when her family couldn't reach her or find her after lunch they began to panic. Her mother called the RCMP and told police: "I fear for my daughter's life right now."
Meadow Lake RCMP confirmed they received a request around 2:10 p.m. CST for a wellness check. RCMP said officers were making inquiries related to this request when the gunshot reports came in at 2:44 p.m. CST.
Duquette wasn't satisfied with the police's plan to check Charlene's house and school, so she rushed over to the campground to search for her sister herself. The family can only speculate that Delane used force or threats to get Charlene to the campground that day.
A sister dies, another escapes
When Duquette arrived, at first she believed Delane was punching her sister so she tackled him and held him on the ground, she said. That's when she discovered he had a knife and had been stabbing Charlene.
"I was yelling for help and there are so many campers around and I'm like, 'Why isn't anyone coming to help?' Maybe she could have survived from the stab wounds."
Then, she said, Delane stabbed her in the hand and she released him.
"Then I went back to [Charlene], and I said, 'Sister, are you okay?'"
That's when Charlene ordered her to "Go!"
At that point, Duquette said, Delane came toward them with a gun and shot her sister.
"I just wanted to go hold her, and he looked at me and pointed that gun at me and shook his head. He said, 'Get the f--- out of here,'" she said.
'There's a way out'
Charlene's family says they weren't able to save her life, but hope sharing her story will save others. They will remember her as a smart, funny woman who loved to sing karaoke and always put others first.
Charlene Graham started a new teaching job at an elementary school on the day she was killed.
(Charlene Graham/Facebook)
"This is reality. It happens to a lot of women," said Charlene's mother. "We want to help other women to recognize the signs of an abusive relationship."
Charlene's sister, Roxanne Aubichon, believes her sister could have been helped by her family, police, and community agencies if she had reached out to them — just as Aubichon did when she left an abusive marriage — but she understands how daunting it can be for women who are broken or beaten down to ask for help.
"Your family loves you and your family wants to help you if you are stuck in a situation. There's a way out," she said.
If you need help and are in immediate danger, call 911. To find assistance in your area click here.
There is always a way out but you most likely will need help and a plan. There are resources listed to the right of this post. Police and social services should know who to contact locally if you need to get out in a hurry.
Alleged victim of Launceston paedophile nurse James Griffin
criticises Tasmanian police investigation review
By Emily Baker, ABC
Posted 18h ago18 hours ago
Keelie McMahon says if police had acted sooner, a decade of abuse could have been stopped.
(ABC News: Jessica Moran)
A woman allegedly sexually abused by a paedophile nurse says she is "unbelievably angry" police officers investigated over their handling of the matter have not faced serious disciplinary action.
Tasmania Police apologised to sexual assault survivors in February after revealing the force was tipped off about Launceston man James Geoffrey Griffin in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015.
He worked in the children's ward of the Launceston General Hospital until he was finally charged in 2019, but took his own life before facing court.
A professional standards investigation into police officers' handling of the notifications has now ended, with three officers disciplined.
One received counselling, another was "reprimanded" and a third was placed in ongoing professional development.
Tasmania Police declined to provide any further details.
Keelie McMahon alleges she was abused by Griffin (5th story on link) in 2011 and 2012 when she was 14.
"It has made me so unbelievably angry that they're treating it as if they've just put a file into the wrong spot," Ms McMahon said.
"If they had done their job properly in 2009, 10 years' worth of abuse towards multiple children and women would have been stopped … they should have lost their jobs."
Abuse reports 'not taken seriously': Greens
The broader review into Tasmania Police's handling of the Griffin matter found issues with how police handled what are known as information reports — tips from third parties, like child protection services.
Mr Griffin was only charged after an alleged survivor contacted police directly.
Ms McMahon went to police in the same year in support of the woman.
"I know that the likelihood of people taking one person seriously is very slim," she said.
Greens justice spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff asked Police Minister Jacquie Petrusma about the disciplinary actions in Parliament.
"Clearly there's been a culture in at least parts of Tasmania Police where victims or witnesses reporting sexual abuse have not been taken seriously," she said.
"Survivors of sexual abuse need to be assured they will be listened to and believed when they come forward."
Police acknowledge difficulty for victims in coming forward
The Police Minister declined to provide further detail about the professional standards investigation, but said Tasmania Police was committed to improving processes for people reporting child sexual abuse.
"It is already implementing recommendations from the Griffin management review," Ms Petrusma said.
"These recommendations include developing protocols for the information exchange between [the police department] and the Department of Justice for working with vulnerable children checks, also developing Tasmania Police initial investigation notification of child sexual abuse guidelines, and reviewing the memorandum of understanding between Child and Family Services and Tasmania Police."
Ms McMahon said it was crucial the changes were effective and long term.
"I really hope for future generations' sake they're doing something that means claims like this are taken seriously, but I'm also scared that they've also got a history of not taking it seriously," she said.
Ms Petrusma said Tasmania Police had released more details of the internal investigation to the state's ongoing royal commission into child sex abuse.
In a statement, Tasmania Police Deputy Commissioner Donna Adams said the Griffin Outcomes Report "identified deficiencies in the way we draw together information across agencies, particularly in relation to third party reports where the victim is not identified".
Deputy Commissioner Adams said police "understand and acknowledge that it is often a very difficult decision" for victims of sexual assault to come forward, for "many reasons".
She urged anyone who is a victim of any type of sexual assault to "report to police so that the matter can be investigated, the offender held to account for their actions and brought to justice".
Paedophile pensioner who claimed victims 'enjoyed' abuse
found dead in prison cell
Michael Taylor, who assaulted five boys and girls over a six-month period after enticing
them to play with sweets and money, was discovered at HMP Glenochil last month
By Jonathan Coles Reporter
11:07, 1 Sep 2021
A paedophile pensioner who claimed the children he abused "enjoyed it" has died in prison just five months after being sentenced.
Michael Taylor, 71, assaulted five boys and girls over a six-month period after enticing them to play with sweets and money.
The predator, of Aberdeen, filmed his rape of a young boy and instructed another victim to video him abusing a girl, a court heard.
Army veteran Taylor was eventually arrested after a youngster told his father that he had put his hands under his clothes.
The boy said his attacker told him not to tell his parents and had previously given him money for sweets.
Taylor was then arrested and admitted five offences of sexual assault against children aged between six and 11 which took place last year.
He also pleaded guilty to a further charge of taking indecent photographs of children at the High Court in Edinburgh.
During his hearing, the prosecution said Taylor claimed his victims had "liked" and "enjoyed" the abuse (5th story on link).
The first offender was jailed for eight years and placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely in March. But it has now emerged he was found dead inside HMP Glenochil last month after serving five months of his sentence.
The cause of death is unknown but a fatal accident inquiry will be held because he died in legal custody.
During their investigation, police recovered a number of devices from Taylor's home and an examination of his phone revealed twisted images and videos of children.
It was discovered he had made searches for boys in skirts, boys in dresses and gay young boys.
When questioned by police he claimed he had become 'over friendly' with two of his five victims and that it had turned sexual.
Jailing Taylor, judge Lady Scott said: "The effect of your conduct on these children and their families has been profound.
"I am satisfied you present a serious risk of harm to children."
Not any more.
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