Court hears how former Sunderland headteacher shared abuse images and said schoolgirls turned him on
A headteacher who shared child abuse images and said schoolgirls turned him on during shocking online conversations has kept his freedom.
Dean Juric, who was head at St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College in Washington, had a sickening collection of 380 illegal pictures and videos, featuring children as young as four, on his iphone when he was arrested in January last year (2025).
Newcastle Crown Court heard his vile internet activities were exposed after he had a conversation with an undercover law enforcement operative over a social networking app and sent one illegal image of a teen girl.
As a result, police raided his home, seized two Iphones and the true extent of his offences were exposed.
The 54-year-old was suspended by the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, which no longer has any association with him, after his arrest.
Prosecutor Omar Ahmad told the court the law enforcement operative had set up an account on Kik and was in contact with Juric in November 2024.
Mr Ahmad said: "The defendant asked the decoy if he liked teens and sent images of two schoolgirls wearing full uniform, approximately 15 years of age.
"He later sent a further non-indecent video of a girl fully clothed and a picture of two girls aged 12 to 13 wearing provocative clothing.
"He sent the decoy an indecent image depicting a girl aged around 14, posing in a sexual manner. He then asked the decoy 'have you got some to share'?
"Mr Ahmad said Juric had another chat with the decoy the following day and sent a video of a girl dancing in tight fitting clothing.
“As a result of the conversations police raided Juric's home and seized two Iphones.
“On one of the mobiles contained a total of 380 images of children, both still and moving. The court heard 54 were in category A, which is the most serious, 36 were in category B and 290 were in category C. Mr Ahmad said another 30,000 images were not categorised.
The prosecutor added: "The children depicted in the images were approximately aged between four and 15 years of age.
"It was also discovered he had distributed seven category C images to other users on Kick, including the image sent to the decoy.
"He had been engaged in other conversations on Kik where indecent images were shared and sexual discussions regarding children took place.
"In summary, in the conversations when asked 'what turns you on most', the defendant replied 'schoolgirls'.
"Mr Ahmad said in another chat a child around 14 was mentioned, which Juric said was "perfect age".
When asked what he was into, Juric replied: "Love young girls."
Mr Ahmad said chat logs showed Juric engaged in the conversations "at various times throughout the day".
Juric, of Birtley Avenue, Tynemouth, North Tyneside, admitted three charges of making indecent images of children and one of distributing indecent images of children.
Judge Graham Robinson sentenced him to eight months suspended for 18 months with rehabilitation requirements and 150 hours unpaid work.
Juric must sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.
The judge told him: "Every time someone like you downloads an indecent photograph of a child the evil makers and producers of those images are encouraged to acquire more photographs of other children and so the abuse is perpetuated."
Judge Robinson said he was satisfied Juric's prospect of rehabilitation was not only realistic but a "near certainty".
Sean Smith, defending, said Juric has sought professional help.