Former teacher jailed for secretly filming boys

He set up covert cameras

A former teacher has been sent to prison after admitting setting up cameras to watch young boys in private and school settings.

David Yilma, 44, from Newton Abbot appeared at Exeter Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty in November to 10 offences which took place over five years.

For four counts of voyeurism, three counts of making indecent images of child, one count of possessing a prohibited image of children and two counts of production of indecent images of children he was jailed for 38 months.

Mr Yilam, an IT expert, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child. These matters were not proceeded with, following consultation between all interested parties.

The court heard that he set up carefully constructed and hid covert cameras to record boys over several years in South Devon and in Suffolk.

The school recording offences took place in Suffolk.

At least one of the hidden cameras was disguised inside a Wi-Fi router and another in a cotton bud box.

The offending was uncovered when someone noticed a live feed from one of Mr Yilma’s cameras on his tablet.

Police were called and he was arrested. Examination of his devices found a large volume of footage of the boys he had secretly recorded, as well as other child abuse material accessed on the dark web.

Barrister Simon Burns described the behaviour as the “elaborate, highly skilled, professional installation of covert cameras”.

Some of the offences also related to Yilma secretly recording his victims with handheld devices.

Yilma, who has no previous convictions, made various admissions in interview including accepting he was attracted to boys.

Sentencing Yilma, Judge David Evans said: “You are 44 and worked as a teacher for many years. You are an IT specialist and abused your role as a teacher and misused your knowledge of technology to facilitate these offences.”

Judge Evans stated that Yilma recorded footage of seven boys carrying out activities during which they’d expect privacy.

“You are clearly a danger to young boys and would be a maligned presence in any educational establishment.”

Judge Evans also mentioned Yilma’s intention to set up a boys’ school in Czechia, adding that he hopes he is never successful in his ambition.

Detective constable Natalie Mawson said: “Today my thoughts are foremost with those affected by David Yilma’s actions. They have had their trust breached by a person that they should have been there to protect them.

“David Yilma took advantage of children for his own sexual gratification, and I welcome the sentence that has been passed by the judge today.”