By James Simons And Lucy Caulkett-
A convicted rapist teacher faces another trial of rape and indecent assault to be held in December just after he was to be sentenced for two counts of rape. 36 year old Brad Conway- a former teacher of Maths at Brighthouse Secondary school had tried to appeal his conviction after a retrial of the case at Bradford Crown Court found him guilty of the offences last week. His Barrister, Stephen Ottley told the judge he was about to lodge the appeal on behalf of his client on Monday, but the, hearing was dismissed after news of further charges of rape to be held in December.
Controlling and manipulative Conway from Halifax stood before Judge Neil Davey QC , where he was told of the new charges against him before he entered not guilty pleas to charges of rape and assault by penetration dating back to between 2006 and 2007. The new allegations involve a complainant aged over 17. Conway was just about to face his sentence for the rape offences when his barrister revealed his plans to appeal the conviction. However, in a bizarre twist, it emerged that further allegations of rape against a teenage girl had been made, leading to the judge’s decision to remand him in custody and delay original plans to sentence him.
Judge Davey told a shocked court that Conway’s sentence be held back until the conclusion of the trial in December. The judge said it was frustrating for everyone involved. Conway has taken the court on a dramatic trip of deep contemplation as he stood accused of raping and sexually abusing a total of five women over close to a decade. In November, although the jury cleared him on six charges of rape, two of voyeurism, two of sexual assault and one of false imprisonment, they failed to reach verdicts in relation to two other complainants, forcing another court trial in July for the outstanding two offences. The jury this time took five hours to reach a unanimous verdict of guilty on both charges. Conway was found guilty of forcing the young complainant of performing oral sex on him at his then home in Bradford following a night out in Leeds.
Conway was also convicted of harassing a second woman with intent to commit a sexual offence. The top pervert had sent her dozens of emails threatening to send sexually explicit photos to her parents and others. The news has devastated former pupils and teachers at the Brighthouse secondary school were he taught Maths, and was said to have been good at his subject. Any chances of his appeal being successfully lodged would disappear if he is found guilty of this new rape charge. Brighton is one of those academic buds who must have struggled to pull as a teenager. A quick glance at him produces no feedback that would suggest otherwise, but he sure has one hell of another court battle lying ahead.
It will be a very tough and difficult , if not embarrassing time, for his friends and family. With the importance of the teaching profession still high, it is always a kick in the teeth of the teaching profession anytime one of their own is accused or convicted of betraying the codes of conduct of the profession. The fact he was convicted for rape charges will almost inevitably bias a neutral jury’s mind, but it might be a necessary bias that can’t be helped. It is quite possible that the jury in his December trial will not be allowed to be aware of this conviction hanging over him for which he intends to appeal, but it looks very bad on him from the point of view of all those who have been following his case.