A former teacher who was jailed twice in Jersey for sharing indecent images of children and sending messages about taking underwear from pupils’ lockers moved to Scotland and committed similar offences, it has emerged.
James John Matthews, the former Deputy Head of St John’s Primary School, was initially jailed for two years and nine months in 2020 after pleading guilty to possessing indecent images of children and sending “obscene” messages.
But his sentence was extended by 11 months the following year after his ex-wife discovered further images on a laptop hidden in a toy box and a time-capsule hard drive.
After his release, Matthews moved to Scotland – and it has now emerged that he has been convicted of similar offences there.
The Helensburgh Advertiser reported that Matthews pleaded guilty in March to taking or permitting to be taken indecent images, possession of indecent images, and possessing an image depicting bestiality.
The former Jersey teacher appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on 30 April 2025, according to the Scottish title.
Philip Lafferty, defending, said his client had been in custody for nearly seven months – the equivalent of a jail sentence of nearly two years because of automatic early release rules.
Sheriff Maxwell Hendry, prosecuting, suggested that, as an alternative to jail, Matthews could be subject to intense supervision and work with the ‘Stop It Now’ programme – which aims to prevent child sexual abuse and works with those arrested, cautioned or convicted of such offences.
Mr Lafferty also said a community payback order [a court-ordered sentence in Scotland that requires individuals to make amends for their offences through unpaid work and other activities] would allow rehabilitation and prevent further offending.
Sheriff Hendry allowed Matthews bail on 30 April to attend the Helensburgh housing department as a homeless person, and he was told to return to court on 2 May.
He imposed a community payback order for three years, with 200 hours of community service to be completed within 12 months.
Matthews must comply with psychological counselling or treatment and will be on the sex offenders register for three years.
His case was due to be reviewed in court on 22 July.
The JEP has contacted Dumbarton Sheriff Court for an update on Matthews’ case.
