A former teacher at a top Oxford private school has been banned from the profession for life – after sex abuse images were found on his laptop.

Dr Paul Dean, 68, was given a six month suspended prison sentence by the magistrates last year for having 15 indecent images of children, including three in the most serious category that includes depictions of child rape.

Now, the former Dragon School and Summer Fields School teacher has been banned from the profession indefinitely by the Secretary of State for Education.

Sarah Buxcey, on behalf of the Education Secretary, said it was ‘necessary’ to impose the prohibition order banning him from teaching for life ‘in order to maintain public confidence in the profession'.

The lifetime ban was ‘proportionate and in the public interest’, she added.

After taking early retirement in 2015, Dr Dean worked part-time at the Summer Fields School, Summertown, teaching a scholarship class. From January 2017, he also worked a zero-hours contract at the Dragon School.

Police were called after suspicious internet history was found when Dr Dean’s own personal laptop was being serviced.

He pleaded guilty in 2020 at Oxford Magistrates’ Court to three counts of possession of indecent images of children. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and put on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

Dr Dean had provided six character references in his support, the Teaching Regulation Agency said.

One unnamed family friend said: “I would trust him to the ends of the earth with all of my family members.”

A former colleague described Dr Dean as a ‘consummately professional teacher who holds all children in great respect’. Another said that generations of students had been ‘blessed by his dedication and selfless devotion to his craft’.

Last year, the Dragon School, which counts Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick and Hermione Granger actress Emma Watson among its alumni, said Dr Dean had been suspended as soon as it became aware of the police investigation.

“Shortly afterwards his contract with Dragon School was terminated,” it said.

"These offences did not take place on the school premises, nor did they relate to current or former Dragon School pupils.”

Summer Fields School was approached for comment.

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