The Huddersfield private tutor’s dark secret he hid from parents who paid him to teach their children

A private tutor and sex offender has breached a court order banning him from teaching children.

John Noel, 63, was jailed for three years on Thursday after Leeds Crown Court heard he defied the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which was put in place in June last. He was made the subject of the SHPO after being convicted of indecent photographs of children and possession of extreme pornography.

West Yorkshire Police say Noel, from Huddersfield, breached the order by working with children aged five to 17 as a private maths, English and science tutor. He was arrested by police in February this year for concealing a device in breach of the order and a bar offense and later charged.

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PC Richard Thorp, from Kirklees Police Public Protection Unit, said: “We welcome the sentencing of John Noel at Leeds Crown Court today and hope it demonstrates that breaching DBS orders and restrictions, put in place to protect the public, can only have one result . .

“Noel arrogantly continued to offer his services as a private tutor, although he was fully aware that he was prohibited from doing so. He showed no appreciation or consideration for how he breached the trust of those parents/guardians who were paying him. I hope the people of Kirklees take note of this conviction in court today and that he poses a clear risk to safeguarding.

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“The Public Protection Unit is working hard to monitor those who are the subject of all these DBS Prevention of Sexual Harm Orders and Restrictions. Those who attempt to breach the strict conditions imposed on them should be in no doubt that they will be caught, charged and dealt with.”

A spokesperson for the Disclosure and Barring Service said: “The decision to ban a person is a significant decision taken in the public interest to protect those at risk of physical and emotional harm.

“It is essential that those who breach any banning order that has been imposed are brought to justice and we are grateful for the support and diligence of West Yorkshire Police in this matter.”