Teacher banned over indecent images of children

A man has been struck off from teaching after being convicted of making and possessing indecent images of children, and possessing pornographic images of animals.

Arran Johnson, formerly a teacher at The Victory Academy in Chatham, Kent, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children at Medway Magistrates' Court on 18 June, 2024.

A Teaching Regulation Agency hearing in February 2026 found Johnson should be indefinitely banned from teaching.

Johnson, 29, also admitted possessing prohibited images of children and possessing pornographic images of animals. He was given a two-year-community order and five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order at Maidstone Crown Court in August 2025.

The disciplinary hearing was told how Johnson, who began teaching at The Victory Academy in September 2020, was interviewed by police in August 2022 and admitted the offences.

He was fired from the school in October 2022.

The hearing found Johnson had breached teaching standards. The hearing was told he understood his behaviour was a significant breach because of the "current age range" that he taught.

It also found Johnson "made indecent images and repeatedly and intentionally accessed images for which he had been convicted".

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.