Former teacher charged with sexual offences

A former teacher from Ellesmere Port has been charged with almost 30 counts of sexual offences involving children.

Simon Clarke, a former teacher at a school in the North Wales area, was originally arrested in August 2023 as part of an investigation by the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team at Cheshire Police.

The 46-year-old, of no fixed abode, Ellesmere Port, was subsequently released on conditional bail and a number of safeguarding measures were put in place.

Following a detailed investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised Cheshire Constabulary to charge him with the following offences –

• One count of inciting a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity.
• Two counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.
• Two counts of inciting a child under 16 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.
• 21 counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child under 16.
• Making 26 indecent images of children of Category A.
• Make 29 indecent images of children of Category B.
• Make 81 indecent images of children of Category C.

The charges all relate to 26 victims under the age of 16 and are alleged to have taken place between November 2016 and April 2023.

Clarke appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court on Friday 28 February where he was released on conditional bail. He is next set to appeal at Chester Crown Court on Friday 28 March.

Cheshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Clarke are now active and that he has a right to a fair trial.

It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.