A FORMER teacher at a Reigate primary school has been convicted of historic sex offences against 39 children.
Paul Cannon was a supply teacher at Sandcross Primary School in 2009, and, up until last year, ran an after-school media club for youngsters.
The 40-year-old was sentenced to four years in jail at Croydon Crown Court last Tuesday.
Parents were shocked to learn of his conviction, after his club stopped abruptly without explanation.
Sandcross head teacher Judith Constable told the Mirror this week: "Safeguarding children is of paramount importance to everyone at Sandcross Primary. With regard to last week's court case, we are doing all we can to reassure concerned parents and provide advice where needed."
She added: "No concerns were reported to us at any time with regard to his use of the school premises or his conduct with any of our pupils."
Cannon, of Coulsdon Road, Old Coulsdon, was arrested in March 2013, two months after a victim, encouraged by the Jimmy Savile case, came forward 13 years after he abused her. Between 1999 and 2009, Cannon targeted unaccompanied victims in parks and public places and exposed himself or asked them to expose themselves.
Sentencing, Judge Glenn Brasse said: "Your behaviour was every parent's worst nightmare. That nightmare is that your child goes out unaccompanied in a public place, that he might be or she might be sexually assaulted."
Cannon worked as a full-time teacher and, from 2006, as a supply teacher, at various primary schools in Surrey and Sussex. None of his victims were his pupils, the court heard.
Sandcross parents have told the Mirror they were disappointed the school had not alerted them when Cannon's crimes came to light.
But Mrs Constable said: "Last year he cancelled the club without notice and undertook the contacting of parents about this. The police later approached the school as part of a brief, general enquiry. We are advised by the local authority that none of the offences for which this person has been prosecuted concerned any pupils at our school or any other Surrey school."
She added that Cannon was hired via a "reputable" agency.
Most of the children Cannon preyed on were unknown to him. Many of his offences were committed near the River Wandle, as well as in Morden Hall Park, Sanderstead and Beddington Park.
Prosecuting, Anthony Heaton-Armstrong said Cannon's victims had been "traumatised", with one telling the court it had "changed who I am".
Cannon was arrested after one of his victims told police he had abused her in 1999, when she was aged 11. On that occasion, he had asked her and a friend to do "moonies" before photographing their naked bottoms, the court heard.
After the 1999 victim came forward, police matched Cannon's DNA to a number of unsolved reported offences.
Mitigating, Emma Nash said her client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and co-operated with police. She added: "Through me, he wishes to apologise to each and every victim".
Sandcross has this week written to parents of current pupils explaining the situation.
David Tucker, sentencing expert at the NSPCC, said: "His offences have clearly had a profoundly damaging effect on the children involved, and he took full advantage of the trust he worked to gain with them."
