By Lucy Caulkett-
An ex- teacher who was a pedophile before becoming a school governor, has been spared jail after vowing to beat his child porn addiction.
Vincent Copeland was spared appeared at Ipswich Crown Court today after admitting three counts of possessing indecent images of children at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court in June. Copeland worked as a magistrates, a school governor, and was an active member of his local church. He is a shame to society. Pervy pedophile Copeland was charged with three categories he sent himself through two email accounts. The story shocked many boroughs in Essex, so much that the Evening Echo prioritized at as one they would run as their front page story.
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Indecent
The charges related to three categories of indecent images and movies that he sent to himself via two email accounts.
In one of the depraved videos, the 71-year-old former teacher sent himself a video of a ten-year-old boy being raped.He had no previous convictions before his dark obsession was brought to light last November for possession of the vile images.
The court heard how Copeland retired as deputy head teacher at Thorpe Bay School- now Futures College- in 2002 after a spell of depression following the death of his long-term partner. His lawyer told the court that his world fell apart after the death of his long-term partner and he became obsessed with the online world.
His obsession with images of young children grew out of control, yet Thompson took up posts as a school governor at both St Thomas More High School in Westcliff and Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in Leigh.
This weirdo also became a member of Southend Council’s children and lifelong learning scrutiny committee and a magistrate. His appalling offense has shocked Southend Council, and it shows how easy it is for terrible individuals to get dignified posts.
Southend Council had no way of knowing his horrible past, but he disgracefully let down his position.
Copeland tried to lie to police that he dumped at least seven computers in bins around Southend in the past. But after police arrested him, they found a note that read “You know already, or will shortly find out, I’m in trouble for looking at illegal pornography online.
“Usually, nobody knows who or where they are.”
Copeland was given a three-year community order and must take part in a 30 day Internet sex offender rehabilitation programme.
A £425 costs and a £60 victim surcharge. He is also to have limited contact with children under 16 years of age, as part of his five-year sexual harm prevention course. The judge said he took the ”public humiliation”Copeland had suffered in this case and believed he took courses to try and get the Pedophile habit behind him.
The former teacher was lucky and got away lightly. With all these facts, one would think he should have been sent to jail.