Worcester Teacher Banned After Creating Horrific Child Abuse Images and Exploiting Online 'Girl'

Richard Leighfield, a former primary school teacher in Worcester, has been banned from the teaching profession after engaging in appalling online sexual communications with what he believed was a school-aged girl, and producing horrific indecent images of children.

Leighfield, who taught Year Five at Northwick Manor Primary School since 2012, was arrested in August 2024 after police discovered he had instigated explicit conversations with an online persona posing as a 13-year-old girl. During these conversations, he directed the ‘girl’ to perform sexual acts and encouraged her participation in sexual activities.

Following his arrest, authorities found a cache of indecent images concealed on his phone. These images included one in category A—the most severe classification—along with multiple category B and C photographs or pseudo-photographs depicting children. Leighfield admitted to several charges, including inciting a child aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, making indecent photos, possessing prohibited images, and attempting sexual communication with a child.

In January 2023, Leighfield was sentenced to 30 months in prison, placed on the sex offenders register for life, and subjected to a sexual harm prevention order. The Teaching Regulation Agency’s professional conduct panel found that his actions constituted gross misconduct and breached established teaching standards. Despite no evidence indicating that any victim was a pupil he taught, the panel noted the offenses were deeply connected to working within an educational environment.

Following his arrest, Leighfield was suspended by Northwick Manor Primary School, then dismissed after a disciplinary hearing in December 2024. Throughout the proceedings, he offered no explanation or indication of remorse for his behavior, and no proof of rehabilitation was provided. The panel consequently imposed a prohibition order barring Leighfield from teaching in any school, sixth-form college, youth accommodation, or children’s home across England.

Detective Constable Giuseppe Saladino described Leighfield’s conduct as predatory, stating, “Leighfield demonstrated predatory behaviour towards children and was responsible for making horrific images. His offences are extremely serious and were only uncovered thanks to an online child profile intercepting his actions.”

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding children and maintaining strict standards within the teaching profession.