Former Headteacher Sentenced for Sharing Indecent Images

A former headteacher has been sentenced after being found guilty of downloading and sharing indecent images of minors. Dean Juric, who led St Robert of Newminster School in Washington, Sunderland, was arrested in January 2023 following a police operation involving an undercover officer posing as a 58-year-old man with a seven-year-old step-granddaughter.

Juric’s case was heard at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, where prosecutors revealed that he exchanged messages and images with the undercover officer and other individuals through the Kik messaging platform. The court learned that Juric shared an indecent image of a girl estimated to be around 14 years old, depicting her in a sexualized manner. The prosecution highlighted that his position as a headteacher was an “aggravating factor” in the case.

In November 2024, Juric contacted the decoy again, asking if they were “horny” and what they were interested in. He sent a video of a “young girl” dressed in tight-fitting clothing and engaged in conversations with other individuals discussing inappropriate content. When asked about his preferences, Juric revealed a disturbing attraction to “schoolgirls,” calling a 14-year-old girl a “perfect age.”

Judge Graham Robinson sentenced Juric to an eight-month prison term, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work and attend 40 days of rehabilitation programs. In his remarks, Judge Robinson noted, “You have fallen a long way from grace – many years of dedicated service to the community, now all thrown away.”

The court found Juric in possession of a total of 380 illegal images, including 31 classified as Category A, which represents the most severe form of child sexual abuse material. Juric pleaded guilty to three counts of downloading indecent photographs of children and one count of distributing such images. There was no evidence to suggest that any children depicted in the images were students at his school.

A spokesperson for Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, which oversees St Robert of Newminster School, expressed their unequivocal condemnation of Juric’s actions. They confirmed that the trust cooperated fully with Northumbria Police throughout the investigation, emphasizing their commitment to transparency and the safety of their pupils.

The spokesperson stated, “There were never any warning signs or concerns about Dean Juric’s behaviour. His arrest in January was a profound shock and betrayal of the trust placed in him by our entire community.” Juric was suspended immediately upon the trust learning of his arrest, and he has since severed all ties with the organization.

The trust also indicated that they would refer Juric to teaching authorities that could bar him from future employment in education. They reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding, stating, “Safeguarding is, and will always remain, our highest priority. We will not tolerate any breach of trust, and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect every child in our care.”

As the community comes to terms with this unsettling incident, the trust is focused on rebuilding and strengthening its support systems for students and families during this difficult time.