A paedophile teaching assistant who had a watch containing a covert camera has been jailed for more than five years.
Kevin Cousins, 36, sexually abused a child under the age of 13 at the school where he worked, with an investigation beginning when the victim told a parent what had happened.
The mother went to police, who arrested Cousins and seized his computer.
Officers uncovered a cache of images of child sexual abuse—including many of the most severe variety.
The paedophile was also found to have a watch containing a covert camera, although police said they did not believe it was used to film children at the school.
Cousins admitted to two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 and two counts of taking indecent images of children at Swindon Crown Court in the UK on March 16.
At an earlier hearing, he admitted three counts of making indecent images of a child.
The mother of the victim said, “We are shocked and angry at the actions of Cousins and we would ask for sensitivity to our situation and what our child has been through. We still do not know the long-term effects on our child. Any careless word, overheard by our child at this stage, could damage them forever and we would ask that people are mindful of this.
“Our child has been wonderful and extremely brave throughout the entire investigation. We would encourage parents to talk openly with their children about how to keep themselves safe, wherever they are, as we did with our child who bravely spoke up and stopped this man in his tracks.”
Police praised the child for speaking up and stopping Cousins from abusing more victims.
Detective Constable Sam Long of the Child Abuse Investigation Team said, “I welcome the sentence that has been given to Cousins—I believe it reflects the gravity of the offences committed.
“Cousins was employed as a teaching assistant at a primary school—he held a position of trust and he grossly breached this trust.
“We cannot underestimate the impact of these crimes on his young victim. I cannot praise the child enough in talking to their mother about Cousins’s actions, which in turn led us to identify his offending online.”
The Police said they will provide support to the child and work with the school and local council.
Cousins, of Melksham, Wiltshire, was sentenced to five years and six months in prison and was also issued with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
