A former headteacher who downloaded and shared indecent images has been sentenced. Dean Juric was running St Robert of Newminster School in Washington, Sunderland when he arrested in January last year.
Officers found hundreds of indecent images on a phone after being alerted to the married father following being caught by a police decoy.
North Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard he was snared by an undercover police officer pretending to be a 58-year-old grandfather with a seven-year-old step-granddaughter, reports Daily Star.
Prosecutors said his role as a headteacher was considered an "aggravating factor". Juric exchanged messages with the undercover officer - and others - via the Kik messaging platform.
He went on to share an indecent image of a girl aged around 14 “posing in a sexual manner with her breasts partially exposed,” the prosecution said.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said that in November 2024, Juric messaged the decoy again.
“The defendant asked the decoy if they were horny and what were they into,” the court heard.
He then sent a video of a “young girl” in tight-fitting clothing to the police officer.
They also found conversations between Juric and other paedophiles on the social media app.
One asked him what turned him on and he replied: “Schoolgirl”.
About an image of a girl who appeared to be around 14, Juric messaged “perfect age”, the court heard.
And when asked what he was “into”, Juric replied: “Love young girls.”
Judge Graham Robinson handed him an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and to undertake 40 days of rehabilitation.
He started the sentencing by saying: “You have fallen a long way from grace – many years of dedicated service to the community, now all thrown away.”
Speaking about Juric’s background, the judge said: “There’s another side to you that is not only good, it is exemplary.
“I also note you have taken steps to deal with what you recognise is unacceptable, criminal behaviour.”
The court was told he transmitted an image of a teenage girl in school uniform who appeared around 15 years old to the officer, along with other images of girls appearing aged 12 and 13.
Juric also forwarded images of young teenage girls to the undercover officer. The court heard he had shared Category C images but also possessed images up to Category A - the most serious classification of child sexual abuse material - on his device.
There was no indication that any of the children depicted were students at his secondary school or resembled any pupil at the institution.
Juric was discovered to have 380 illegal images in his possession, including 31 that were Category A.
Juric pleaded guilty to three counts of downloading indecent photographs of children and one count of distributing indecent photographs of children.
A spokesman for Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, which runs St Robert of Newminster School where Juric was head, said: “We unequivocally condemn the actions of Dean Juric.
“We are satisfied that every aspect of due process has been rigorously upheld, culminating in today’s sentencing. Throughout the investigation, our Trust fully cooperated with Northumbria Police, demonstrating absolute transparency.
“Legal constraints prevented us from sharing details with the school community, but our priority was always to protect the integrity of the process and the safety of our pupils. There were never any warning signs or concerns about Dean Juric’s behaviour. His arrest in January was a profound shock and betrayal of the trust placed in him by our entire community.
"Our Trust acted immediately and decisively, suspending Dean Juric upon learning of the arrest. He no longer has any association with our Trust. We extend our gratitude to Northumbria Police for their relentless pursuit of justice, their vigilance, and their unwavering resolve in bringing Dean Juric to account.”
Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust said it had referred Juric to teaching authorities which could bar him.
It added: “We have taken decisive action to support the school and are fully committed to rebuilding and strengthening our community after this deeply unsettling period.
“We want to thank our staff and parents at St Robert’s who have worked together to support one another and maintain stability for our pupils, at this time. To all parents and carers: safeguarding is, and will always remain, our highest priority.
“We will not tolerate any breach of trust, and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect every child in our care.”
