Gareth Mellor, a 43-year-old assistant head teacher from Yorkshire, has pleaded guilty to the shocking charge of making over 11,500 images and videos of child abuse. This revelation comes after an intensive investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA), uncovering Mellor’s illicit activities.
Mellor, who was also the safeguarding lead at a high school in Wakefield, was tracked down by NCA investigators after making a Bitcoin payment for indecent images of children via an encrypted cloud storage service. His dual role, entrusted with the well-being of students, has added a layer of gravity to the case.
The NCA identified Mellor through a Bitcoin payment made for indecent images, leading to the discovery of his involvement in multiple online platforms seeking child abuse material. In May 2021, officers arrested Mellor at his home in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, seizing devices containing cryptocurrency applications and files linked to the storage platform.
A forensic review of Mellor’s cloud storage accounts exposed a disturbing trove of over 11,500 indecent images and videos of children, ranging from categories A to C. Shockingly, Mellor accessed one of his accounts even after being bailed, attempting to delete evidence, a fact investigators were able to prove.
At Leeds Crown Court, Mellor pleaded guilty to three offences related to the making of indecent images of children. His sentencing is scheduled for December 7, 2023
Danielle Pownall, NCA Operations Manager, expressed the severity of Mellor’s betrayal, emphasising the agency’s commitment to combating child abuse in all its forms. Mellor’s employment at the school was terminated following his arrest, with assurance that none of the offences were related to the school’s pupils. The investigation also revealed a second individual with access to one of Mellor’s accounts, who is now under a separate investigation.
