Banned Paedophile Teacher Applied for Tutoring Job

A banned paedophile teacher applied for a job tutoring teenagers and young adults.

Richard Swinnerton, 36, of Staithes Court, Hartlepool, denied an offence under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, but was convicted following a trial at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on Monday, 3rd November 2025.

It is an offence under section 7(1)(a) of the Act for a person to seek to engage in a regulated activity from which they are barred. The maximum sentence is 12 months' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction; 5 years' custody and/or an unlimited fine on conviction in indictment.

Swinnerton, previously the deputy headteacher of a Middlesbrough primary school, was convicted of three offences of possession of indecent images of children at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Monday, 14th September 2020. He was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order on that day.

As a result of those convictions he was made subject to an interim prohibition order, banning him from the classroom. 

A Teaching Regulation Agency misconduct panel later recommended a full prohibition order, which prevents Swinnerton from working in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England. Reflective of the severity of Swinnerton's crimes, the order was granted for an indefinite period of time. He was told that his teacher registration would never be restored.

On Friday, 18th July 2025, despite being banned from the teaching profession, Swinnerton applied for a job as an English tutor with Hartlepool-based training provider Learning Curve Group. Reassuringly, checks during the application process revealed the 36-year-old's horrific criminal past.

It also transpires that Swinnerton has twice breached his sexual harm prevention order, receiving suspended sentence orders on each occasion. On paper, even if not in practice, Swinnerton is clearly quite an intelligent man - which suggests a deliberate disregard for the orders of the court.

Given the circumstances, District Judge Steven Hood was of the view that his sentencing powers were insufficient.

The matter was sent to Teesside Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, 2nd December 2025.

Swinnerton has expended all of his chances now. He can fully expect to go to prison.

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Scaffolder Busted with £2.4m of Cocaine

A scaffolder stopped by the police had £2.4 million worth of cocaine in his car.

Scott Richard Tobin, 33, of Glasgow, admitted possession with intent to supply a controlled drug when he appeared in custody at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 6th November 2025.

Possession with intent to supply a controlled drug is an offence under section 4(3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. For a class A drug, as is the case here, the offence has a maximum sentence of 12 months' custody on summary conviction; life imprisonment on conviction on indictment.

Magistrates heard that police had cause to stop Tobin's silver Mercedes as he was driving north on the M6 near Plumpton, Cumbria, on Wednesday, 5th November 2025.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, said: "Officers deemed it appropriate to search the defendant under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

"They found a substantial amount of cocaine. The defendant offered no explanation and failed to give an account as to why the drugs were in his possession."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Crown was of the view that the offence was too serious to be sentenced at the Magistrates' Court.

The Crown was also of the view that Tobin should be remanded in custody, arguing that there were substantial grounds to believe that if granted bail he would commit further offences.

Michael Graham, defending, argued that his client, who had no previous convictions, had minimal involvement in the enterprise, employment as a scaffolder and a secure home address.

"There is no history he would commit any further offences," said Mr Graham.

Magistrates decided they weren't going to take the risk.

Tobin was remanded in custody until his sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court on Friday, 5th December 2025.

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Dudley Man Amassed Sickening Stash of Indecent Images of Children

A Dudley man amassed a sickening stash of indecent images of children over a seven year period.

Ian Lavender, 58, of Beachwood Avenue, Wall Heath, admitted the following when he appeared at Dudley Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 30th October 2025:

• Three offences of making an indecent image or pseudo image of a child;
• One offence of possession of a prohibited image of a child;
• One offence of possession of an extreme pornographic image involving an animal.

Making an indecent image of a child, which is the most serious of the three, is an offence under section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978. It is an either way offence with a maximum sentence of 10 years' custody on conviction on indictment, 12 months' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction.

The court heard that between May 2017 and November 2024 Lavender made 2,899 category A indecent images of children, 1,828 category B images and 44,063 category C images. Making in this context relates to downloading the images from the internet, instead of producing them "at source" with a camera.

Category A images involve penetrative sexual activity; category B images involve non-penetrative sexual activity; and category C images involved sexualised poses.

In November 2024 Lavender was also found in possession of 15 prohibited images of children. This is an offence under section 62 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and typically involves cartoon and computer-generated images. He was also found in possession of 35 extreme pornographic images involving sexual activity with animals, which is an offence under section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.

Magistrates were of the opinion that their sentencing powers were insufficient given the severity and totality of Lavender's offending.

Lavender was granted conditional bail until his sentencing hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday, 27th November 2025.

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Bradford Uber Drivers Refused Passengers with Guide Dogs

Two Bradford Uber drivers have been stripped of their private hire licences for refusing to carry passengers with guide dogs.

Mohammed Zubair, 47, of Dickens Street, Bradford, and Muhammad Faisel, 34, of Horton Park Avenue, Bradford, appeared at Bradford Magistrates' Court on Friday, 31st October 2025.

They were each convicted of failing in their duty to allow a disabled passenger to be accompanied by a guide dog. This is an offence under section 170(1) of the Equality Act 2010. It has a maximum sentence on summary conviction of a fine at level 3 (£1,000).

Magistrates heard that Zubair had been booked to pick up a passenger in Smithy Carr Lane, Brighouse, on Saturday, 14th June 2025. On discovering that the woman was accompanied by a guide dog, Zubair refused to accept the fare and drove away leaving her stranded. 

The woman, who filmed the encounter, told Zubair his refusal was unlawful and that she would be reporting the matter to Bradford Council. Zubair, who had been a taxi driver for seven years, was later interviewed by council officers, but provided no comment.

Faisel had been booked to pick up a passenger from the same location in Brighouse on the previous day, Friday, 13th June 2025. Given that coincidence, it may well have been the same woman and guide dog.

On discovering the passenger had a guide dog Faisel also refused the fare. The woman told Faisel that it was unlawful for him to refuse to carry her guide dog. Faisel responded by telling her she would need to book an Uber Pet instead. Faisel drove away leaving the woman standing in the street.

The woman reported the matter to Bradford Council, which invited Faisel for interview. In interview he admitted that he was mistaken to refuse the woman and her guide dog, saying that he had forgotten some of his earlier training in relation to disabled passengers.

Zubair was fined £90 and ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs and £36 surcharge.

Faisel was fined £80 and ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs and £32 surcharge.

As mentioned earlier, Bradford Council has revoked the private hire licences of both men.

Speaking after these convictions, an Uber spokesman said: "It is totally unacceptable, and illegal, for drivers to refuse to take a rider due to an assistance dog and we investigate every report.

"We remind drivers of this obligation before they start using the Uber app and send regular reminders. Uber can and does permanently remove drivers' ability to use the app when a driver has violated their legal obligations."

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