Trainee teacher jailed for child sex offences (From News Shopper)

A Greenwich trainee teacher has been jailed after trying to pay for sex with an eight-year-old girl

11:11am Friday 22nd June 2012 in Greenwich news By Kelly Smale

AN HIV positive trainee primary teacher who tried to pay for sex with an eight-year-old girl has been given an indeterminate prison sentence.

Andrew Ibbotson, of Frobisher Road, Greenwich, was jailed yesterday (June 21) at Southwark Crown Court.

The 34-year-old was snared after arranging to meet with an under cover police officer to discuss having sex with his two fictitious children, aged eight and 10.

Prosecutor Peter Zinner told the court after agreeing a price of £80 for both, Ibbotson "rubbed his hands together and said 'lovely'."

Ibbotson, a regular church-goer who goes by the name 'hitherqueen' on Twitter, compared Lewisham and Catford to Jerusalem in his blog and also wrote about Osama bin Laden and The Archbishop of Canterbury.

After his arrest in March, police searched his home and discovered a stash of vile child porn on his home computer from levels one to five - with five being the most serious.

Ibbotson was doing a teacher training course at the University of Greenwich and had worked in six schools across London as part of his training.

Mr Zinner said: "The fact the defendant actively pursued a career in teaching was, say the crown, partly motivated by the proximity to young children.

"The fact that such a dangerous and depraved individual, who it seems is also a racist, was working in schools, will send chills through parents and right thinking persons and the crown say it shows how determined this man was to carry out his fantasies and sexual preferences."

Judge Michael Grieve said Ibbotson posed a "significant risk of harm to young children".

He told the pervert: "The picture of you is a disturbing one.

"Online chats show you find gratification in the infliction of pain on young children, with racism and white supremacism part of your fantasies.

"You have been working as a teaching assistant for 10 years, and it is indicative that you have been in active pursuit of contact with children.

"It is both in pleasure and in your profession that you actively seek out contact with children."

Ibbotson pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court on May 23 to attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence, attempting to pay for the sexual services of a child and four counts of making an indecent image of a child.

He also admitted three counts of distributing an indecent image of a child and possession of 95 indecent images of children.

Police

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, of the Paedophile Unit, said: "Andrew Ibbotson is a dangerous individual.

"His communications with other paedophiles show intent to sexually abuse and torture children.

"I am in no doubt that Ibbotson would have committed serious sexual assaults had the children mentioned as part of the undercover police operation existed."

He added: "I believe that he has committed other offences and I would therefore urge anyone who believes they may have been a victim to have the confidence to report the incident to police.

"We are here to support and protect you."

To contact the investigation team, call 020 7161 3871 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Childline on 0800 1111.