Custodial sentence for Telford sex offender

A former headteacher has been given a 16-month custodial sentence after he was found to have over a thousand indecent images of children.

Timothy Moule, of Calder Close in Muxton, Telford pleaded guilty last month to four counts of making indecent images of children and one count of breaching a sexual prevention harm order.

Officers arrested the 53-year-old at his home in September 2024 after they were made aware he was sharing indecent images of children on the social media platform X (formally Twitter).

He was sentenced on Thursday 31 October at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

When officers carried out the arrest Moule initially denied having any other devices than the two that were known to police.

Once officers said they were still going to search his property he then surrendered two tablets which stored the illegal images.

The court heard how Moule’s tablets held 141 category A images, 149 category B images, 789 category C images and 21 prohibited pictures.

Detective Constable Rob Manders, said: “Moule is a dangerous individual whose obsession with young children poses a threat to society.

“We welcome the sentence that the judge has handed to him today, as it means he cannot share or make these images of vulnerable young people.”

If you have been affected by child sexual abuse, you can contact police on 101 and speak to a police officer in confidence.

We recognise that not everyone has the confidence to speak to police, but there are support services available that can help you if you are a victim of abuse.

Anyone who has experienced abuse in childhood or is concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline confidentially on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.

Help and support is also available via the confidential Stop It Now helpline – part of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation. Further details of this can be found on the Stop It Now website here: https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/.