College Tutor sentenced for making indecent images of former pupil

A tutor from Coleg Gwent has been sentenced at Newport Crown Court today following guilty pleas to the offence of Making Indecent Images of Children.

Ian Powell, 60, was a tutor at Coleg Gwent in Usk when he met the victim. They shared messages with each other after the teenager had left the college but was still aged under 18. The messages became sexual in nature, including the sharing of sexual images.

Powell was arrested in December 2023 and his electronic devices seized which showed that he had two category A videos and five category A images along with eight category B images and 32 category C images.

Monique McKevitt of the CPS said: ““It is a criminal offence to access indecent images of anyone under the age of 18, and doing so only perpetuates the sexual exploitation of children.

“Ian Powell was aware of the victim’s age but continued to exchange inappropriate messages of a sexual nature to satisfy his own sexual desires. As a college tutor, he knew this was wrong.

“The strength of evidence presented by the CPS, which included mobile phone evidence, meant that Powell had little choice but to plead guilty.

“I hope this prosecution sends a clear message that the CPS will continue to work alongside the police to bring to justice those who sexually exploit young people.”

Ian Powell was sentenced on 3 October 2024 to a total of ten months’ imprisonment which was suspended for two years and included a 30 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 150 hours unpaid work. A restraining order was also imposed for seven years.