Sex attacker jailed for CV lies

A sex offender who denied having any previous convictions and lied about his qualifications to gain a job as an English teacher has been jailed.

The judge called for an inquiry after Inner London Crown Court heard police knew of Mark Bradshaw's earlier crimes but failed to tell his employers.

Bradshaw, 45, of north London, received eight months after admitting deception.

He had served terms for rape and attempted rape before working at the London Skills Institute, Kentish Town.

The court heard Rosalind Boote, director of studies at the college, received an anonymous letter saying Bradshaw was a dangerous sex offender, just a few months after he took up the post in April last year

The matter will have to be looked at at a very high level because, on the face of it, it reveals a very disturbing state of affairs Judge Colin Smith

She approached the police but the Public Protection Unit (PPU), responsible for keeping tabs on sex offenders, decided not to confirm the allegations.

They passed the case on to the Multi Agency Public Protection Panel who met in November and once again it was decided not to tell the college as Bradshaw was in a stable relationship and appeared settled in his job.

It was only when a journalist threatened to publish a story on Bradshaw that the employers were informed, the court heard.

Bradshaw was jailed for six years in 1991 for raping a woman in a minicab office.

He then attempted to rape a second woman in 1995, while on home leave.

'Compelling public duty'

Bradshaw got the job teaching English to foreign students after approaching an employment agency in November 2002.

On his CV he claimed to have studied at the Bath Spa University.

But the dates he gave for being a student were actually the times he was serving his prison terms, which totalled 11 years.

Sentencing Bradshaw for deception, Judge Colin Smith said: "The matter will have to be looked at at a very high level because, on the face of it, it reveals a very disturbing state of affairs."

"There is an obvious compelling public duty on the police to respond promptly and fully to inquiries made by an employer in this extremely sensitive area."

The case comes in the wake of the Bichard Inquiry which criticised Humberside and Cambridgeshire Police and the Home Office for the inadequate handling of intelligence relating to sex offenders.