Victim Contacted Police Following Publicity Surrounding Jimmy Savile Victims

A former primary school teacher has been jailed for four years for historical sex offences against 40 children after one victim came forward prompted by the publicity around Jimmy Savile.

Paul Cannon, of Coulsdon, South London, admitted to 51 historical offences, ranging from exposing himself, making indecent images to sexually assaulting victims and was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court.

The 40-year-old was charged in January after a woman came forward in 2012, following the publicity surrounding Jimmy Savile, to report an offence that took place 13 years ago.

The Metropolitan Police investigated and eventually arrested Cannon at his home in March 2013. His DNA was matched with the National DNA database from previous victim reports.

Cannon worked as a full-time teacher and from 2006 as a supply teacher, at various primary schools in Surrey and Sussex. He was found to be responsible for offences against at least 40 victims in south London between 1999 and 2009 which involved boys and girls aged between six and 13.

With the exception of one, all his other victims were randomly chosen in parks and other open spaces in the Sutton, Carshalton and Merton areas, during school holidays or weekends.

Following his arrest, police officers found more than 4,000 indecent photos and videos of children, ranging from level 1 to 5, stored on his computer.

Judge Glen Brasse said: "Your behaviour was every parent's nightmare. That their child goes out and he/she might be sexually assaulted.

"The harm to the children was all too easy to imagine - they must have felt terror and fear.

"You targeted a very young age group of children - as young as six years old. This was very serious predatory behaviour."

Expert Opinion

The revelations of the horrific abuse Paul Canon subjected his victims too is deeply shocking. <br/> <br/>“He targeted vulnerable youngsters, often in public places, when they would obviously feel less at risk from sexual harm. <br/> <br/>“We hope that the sentencing will go some way towards helping Canon’s victims begin to look to the future and move on with their lives after what has been for some years of significant psychological trauma. <br/> <br/>“We work on a daily basis to help people whose lives have been devastating by abuse and see first-hand the long-term effects that such crimes can have on victims. It is vital that those affected continue to receive the counselling and support they need to begin to come to terms with what they have faced. <br/> Tracey Storey - Partner