The offences took place between 2011 and 2023.
St Anselms College, Prenton where the teacher previously worked(Image: Google Street View)
A former Wirral teacher who told police he was “downloading music” when found to possess dozens of indecent images of children has been banned from the classroom for life. Juan Torrecillas-Molina pleaded guilty and was convicted of possession three Category B, three Category C, and 36 category A indecent photos or computer generated images of children as well as possessing 42 indecent images of children last year.
The offences took place over the course of 12 years between April 2011 and June 2023. He was previously a teacher at St Anselm’s College, a leading school based in Prenton.
Following this conviction, a teacher misconduct hearing was held to determine whether Mr Molina should be barred from teaching. While being aware of the hearing, he did not attend last month.
The panel heard he received a suspended prison sentence of a total of 20 months as well as unpaid work, rehabilitation, and made to sign a 10 year sexual harm prevention order.
According to barrister James Lloyd representing the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), Mr Molina said he was no longer teaching, was barred from working with children, and did not intend to return to teaching in the future.
The panel was told after Merseyside Police executed a search warrant of Mr Molina’s address, police found he was not at home as he was teaching at school at the time. Police then attended St Anselm’s and told Mr Molina someone had been accessing indecent images of children over the internet at his house.
Mr Lloyd said Mr Molina told police he “was downloading music” and that he was “shocked” when he saw the images. The barrister told the panel a hard drive on the home computer was later found by police, adding: “This is dangerous conduct which gives rise to an ongoing and pressing safeguarding risk.”
The panel said there was “a lack of evidence of any insight and remorse on the part of Mr Torrecillas-Molina.” Based on the evidence they had, the panel on June 1 said a ban “was both proportionate and appropriate,” adding: “The gravity of the offending over a significant period of time was a significant factor in forming that opinion.”
Marc Carvey, the TRA’s chief executive, said the findings are particularly serious and a prohibition order would prevent a risk to the future wellbeing of pupils. He added: “In my judgement, the lack of evidence of insight and remorse means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils.”
Considering whether Mr Molina would have the opportunity to ask for a review, Mr Carvey said: “Factors mean that allowing a review period is not sufficient to achieve the aim of maintaining public confidence in the profession.
“These elements are the very serious nature of the misconduct found, which in my judgment constitutes behaviour incompatible with working as a schoolteacher, and the lack of evidence of either insight or remorse. I consider therefore that allowing for no review period is necessary to maintain public confidence and is proportionate and in the public interest.
“This means that Mr Juan Torrecillas-Molina is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Torrecillas-Molina shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach.”
Serena Cubbin, the headteacher at St Anselm’s, previously told the ECHO the offences were not linked to Mr Molina’s time at the school or any pupils at the school, adding: “As soon as we were informed, we took immediate action and worked with the relevant authorities.”