Sex offender accepted job to work in schools despite previous ban from working with children

A sex offender kept his past secret as he accepted a job to work in schools.

John Paul Hogg had been jailed in 2011 and later banned indefinitely from any role involving children.

But, a decade later, the 46-year-old went on to take up the offer by an educational IT firm for a post that included “unsupervised” work in schools.

Hogg did not reveal his previous conviction – and it was only when background checks were made that it emerged at the last minute.

Hogg has now narrowly avoided a jail term as he appeared in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court this week.

He pleaded guilty to a charge under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act.

The date of the offence was March 1 2022.

Hogg, of the city’s Sandyhills, was ordered to carry out unpaid work as a concerned sheriff told him: “You should have been well aware of these restrictions”.

Hogg had been locked up for 12 months in 2011 for a sex offence.

He was later barred from “regulated work” with children indefinitely.

Fiscal Lauren Donnelly said it was also explained to him that it was an offence to seek or do a job which involved this.

In 2021, he was temporarily employed as a service desk engineer with a company called RM Education.

They work with the educational sector including providing technology and software.

His line manager told him there was a full time post for that job with schools.

Ms Donnelly: “He advised he thought he would be suitable for the role and asked if Hogg would consider applying.”

It was explained to Hogg that the role could involve “on-site” work which was “unsupervised”.

This then meant Hogg would have to apply to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme given the type of job it was.

Hogg said he was interested and accepted the offer. He was also given a PVG application to complete.

In March 2022, Disclosure Scotland – who makes checks on individuals being recruited for certain jobs – later reviewed this and it was only then discovered Hogg was “barred from regulated work with children”.

Hogg was told the PVG application had been rejected.

The fiscal: “He was asked by (his line manager) if he was aware why this would have happened.

“He explained he was barred from regulated work with children.

“Hogg was asked why he did not make them aware of this. He stated: ‘People always say they will do check, but they do not’.”

Hogg was initially suspended before being fired by RM Education.

Disclosure Scotland went on to contact police.

Hogg was charged in November 2022 and claimed: “In my job, we had no contact with children.”

Hogg’s lawyer told the court the latest offence came from a “genuine misunderstanding” on his part.

Ciara Bradley, defending, said Hogg had been put on the sex offenders register for ten years and this had ended in December 2021.

Ms Bradley said: “He thought he was no longer required to disclose this offence to future employers.

“The company took on contracts with other agencies and entered into a contract with a school.

“That is when he was required to submit an application. He did so as he thought the requirements had ended.”

Hogg was now said to have “turned his life around” and had another job in technology.

Sheriff Collete Gallagher said the offence “crossed the custody threshold”, but she instead told Hogg to carry out 108 hours of unpaid work as part of an 18-month community payback order.

She stated: “Legalities are put in place to protect vulnerable people including children.

“Ignorance is no excuse for this matter. The fact you had a number of opportunities to disclose your previous conviction is a concern as is your attitude.

“I consider that this lack of insight presents a risk to the community.”

Hogg was told again he should have no contact with children without permission from a supervising officer.

He also has to declare “any romantic relationships” and get permission before he changes address.