20 November 2023 , 22:11
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A primary school teacher and her partner were branded "monsters" as both were jailed for sexually assaulting children and filming the abuse.
Zoe Williams joined Thomas Surtees in their drink and drug-fuelled crimes which only came to light when he was arrested over unrelated incident and police officers seized his phone, finding horrifying images. In one disturbing video, Surtees could be seen abusing a young child as Williams filmed, before she joined in herself.
Responding to another sick photo of Surtees and a child, teacher Williams later told her partner in a message he should have committed even more serious abuse. The evil pair were jailed at Newcastle crown court on Monday where revelations were heard about their abuse.
In a chilling impact statement, the victim's mother told how she had to listen to the disturbing recording, refusing to believe at first that a teacher could be capable of such evil. "I thought not in a million years this could be happening," she told the court.
Thomas Surtees (Northumbria Police)"I've had to listen to the details of what those two monsters have done. It makes me feel sick to the stomach. I can't get my head around it all. It's one big nightmare, like something you hear on the news but never dream you will be involved in." She branded the abuse "disgusting" and said she worries how it will affect the victim in years to come.
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"Never in a million years could I forgive either of you. What you have done is unforgivable and no matter what sentence you receive, we are the ones that are truly being punished."
Indecent images of other children were also found on Surtees' phone, Chronicle Live reports, including one of a toddler. Surtees, 37, from Wallsend, Tyne & Wear, was jailed for 15 years after he admitted ten sexual assaults, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, sexual communication with a child, three offences of making indecent images of a child and one of taking an indecent image of a child. He will have to serve five further years on licence.
Williams, 30, of Widdrington, Northumberland, got 10 years in prison after admitting two sexual assaults of a child under 13, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and three counts of making indecent images of children. Jailing Williams, Judge Julie Clemitson said she used used her job to "titillate" Surtees, with whom she was "besotted".
Jeremy Barton, for Surtees, told the court his client was "remorseful" and was taking steps to get clean from drugs, while Lorraine Mustard, for Williams, cited a "high level of vulnerability" in her client due to "emotional and psychological difficulties".
Surtees was jailed 15 years with an extended licence period of a further five years while Williams got ten years with an extended licence period of a further five years. They will each also have to sign the sex offenders register for life and be subject to lifelong sexual harm prevention orders.
"It's clear you embraced it wholeheartedly and even encouraged him," the judge said, adding: "You didn't just turn a blind eye to the abuse, you physically joined in".
"It's clear you, Miss Williams, knowing what you knew about Mr Surtees and wanting to continue your relationship with him, you did whatever you thought it would take. Being prepared to do it anyway is no less serious than someone who acts on their own sexual urges."