A FORMER headteacher has been sentenced for having a sex chat with a 'teenage boy' decoy.
Matthew Bennett, aged 47, worked at Clifton High School in Bristol from September 2020 until August 2023.
He admitted a charge of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and was sentenced at Swindon Magistrates Court on November 3.
According to the court register, Bennett struck up an online conversation with what he thought was a 14-year-old boy called Dan for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification on July 2, 2023 in Charlton.
The profile was in fact a decoy account.
Bennett - who was employed by the school at the time of the offence - was given a community order with rehabilitation which will end on November 2, 2026.
He must attend 20 rehabilitation days and complete 200 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.
A £114 surcharge was also imposed with £85 costs - a total of £199.
Bennett, of Charlton Park, Charlton near Malmesbury, is required to register for five years at Gablecross police station in Swindon.
After the court hearing a letter was sent to parents by James Caddy, chair of the governors at Clifton High School, a co-educational private institution in Clifton, Bristol.
The letter stated: "In August 2023, I was informed by the police that Mr Bennett had been arrested on suspicion of attempted sexual communication with a person under the age of 18.
"You understand that I was legally unable to report or share anything at the time that may have compromised the police investigation.
"The immediate actions the school took in August 2023 prioritised the safeguarding of our children and followed our robust procedures to keep our community safe and protected.
"This included Mr Bennett having no further contact with or access to the school, specifically pupils."
Wiltshire police said Bennett was caught following an 'extensive investigation' by officers who tackle online child exploitation.
A spokesperson said: “Offending of this nature is extremely disturbing. Bennett has pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child under 18 and has been sentenced for his actions.
"This follows an extensive investigation by our Child Internet Exploitation Team to put him before the courts.”
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