By Gavin Mackintosh-
A former teacher has been jailed for over two years after being convicted of a series of child sex offences, including sexual activity with a child.
Bobby Rudd, from Thorpe Bay, Essex, was convicted of a number of offences at Basildon Crown Court. The 36-year-old was jailed for two years and four months after being charged with engaging in sexual communications with a child and causing a child to watch a sexual act. Rudd was also charged with five counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.
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Rudd had formerly worked at Shoebury High School and King Edmund School in Rochford, with both schools reassuring parents they do all they can to keep children safe.
Rudd was a music teacher at Shoebury High School and worked as the head of music at the King Edmund School. It is unclear how long Rudd worked at both schools.
This publication can confirm that Mr Rudd was a teacher at Shoeburyness High School in 2013, and had been there a few years at the time.
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A former student of Shoebury High School said: ”It is shocking that this man is a child abuser. He was quite geeky teacher, but quite friendly with students at the time. Looking back it makes sense why he came across as a bit weird. One can only wonder how many children he may have groomed from schools where he worked. Hopefully they weren’t that many”.
Shoeburyness High school declined to tell The Eye of Media.com how many complaints had been made to the school about Mr Rudd prior to the ones about which he has been jailed.
A statement from headteacher at Shoebury High School, Clare Costello read: “Although this person is no longer a member of staff, I understand there will be concern among former and current students, parents and the wider school community.
“As soon as Essex Police contacted us, all correct processes and procedures were immediately followed for the safety of all concerned.
“The safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff remains our highest priority and we continue to support staff and anyone in our school community who has been affected by this news.”
When pressed on what processes and procedures were followed, representatives of Shoeburyness High School seemed to be at a loss of words, and declined to comment.
A spokesperson for the King Edmund School, Rochford, urged any parents with concerns following the court case to contact the headteacher directly.
They said: “The school is aware of an ongoing court case involving Bobby Rudd, a former member of staff.
“Nothing is more important than the safety and wellbeing of our students and we strictly follow all safeguarding policies and procedures as set out in statutory guidance, and by the local authority.
“The headteacher, Mr Jonathan Osborn, can be contacted directly with regard to this matter.”
The headteacher and most of his staff have been in meetings all day, discussing the latest news about one of their former staff in relation to their safeguarding policies for their pupils.
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