Paedo teacher 'moved from day release job to stop distracting builders'

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Kandice Barber is serving time in prison (Image: Vagner Vidal/Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)
Kandice Barber is serving time in prison (Image: Vagner Vidal/Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)

A teacher who had sex with a 15-year-old pupil and had been working at a construction site while on day release from prison, has reportedly been moved on so she doesn't distract the workforce.

Kandice Barber was jailed for six years and two months in March 2021 but had been working for the construction firm Wates which "works closely" with the Ministry of Justice to help people have a job towards the end of their sentence. The Mirror previously reported that now, more than two years into her sentence, she was spotted working on a council site in West London, where she controlled traffic and checks security passes. A photo showed her wearing a high-vis hoodie and hard hat as she stands at the gate.

Just three weeks on she no longer works at the site which was close to Heathrow Airport, and has been "moved on" so she doesn't "distract workers" at the male-dominated building site, reports the Daily Mail.

One workman on site told the paper: "No one knew anything about her until she was photographed. Lots of people were talking about her, but we've not seen her since." While another added: "She's attractive looking, so she's already proving a hit with the lads, who have no idea about her background. It's no secret she's a massive flirt and lots of the staff there have already noticed her."

Paedo teacher 'moved from day release job to stop distracting builders' eideiqzqixzinvBarber was jailed for more than six years (Facebook)
Paedo teacher 'moved from day release job to stop distracting builders'She had been a teacher (PA)

Wates told the Mirror: “As a responsible business, we provide placements to offenders as part of the Ministry of Justice’s ‘Release on Temporary Licence’ scheme (ROTL). We work closely with the MOJ, have rigorous safeguarding processes in place, and are committed to ensuring the safety of the communities that we serve. We support the ROTL scheme by providing placements that allow offenders to begin reintegrating with society through work. This is part of our broader commitment to delivering social value across the communities and sectors that we work in.”

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Barber, 37, from Wendover, Buckinghamshire had been jailed at Aylesbury Crown Court, with Recorder Bal Dhaliwal saying: "You acted in gross breach of trust. You took advantage of a child in your care and groomed him for your own sexual gratification." The judge described the mum-of-three's actions as "beyond despicable".

Prosecutor David Povall summarised a victim's personal statement from the teenager in which he said Barber "was supposed to help him make the right decisions, but helped him to make all the wrong decisions". He said: "He was at school and he came into contact with the defendant. She was in a position of trust. He has been caused stress and anxiety having to go through two trials. He is concerned his family and friends have also suffered. His GCSEs were not as good as they should have been, partly as a result."

Judge Dhaliwal described how Barber added herself to the victim's Snapchat account and exchanged messages with the boy which became sexual within a week. She said: "You also sent images, including a topless image of yourself, and a live video in which you were masturbating. All of these acts are tantamount to you grooming him and pulling him in, and with significant planning on your part."

Kelly-Ann Mills

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