David Eccott, a 75-year-old former music teacher for the Bromley Youth Music Trust, taught children for a year before disclosing his arrest
A paedophile piano teacher has been banned from teaching after being convicted of making and distributing indecent photographs of children.
David Eccott, a 75-year-old former music teacher for the Bromley Youth Music Trust (BYMT), is prohibited from teaching indefinitely following a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) professional conduct panel.
BYMT described Mr Eccott as a “self-employed, licensed visiting music teacher who provided services in Bromley primary schools.”
In January 2021, Mr Eccott was arrested at his home for taking, making or distributing indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children. It took a year for Mr Eccott to disclose his arrest to the music trust, during which he had continued to teach children.
In January 2022 he was advised that would not be able to teach in schools until his enhanced DBS check was completed. Mr Eccott then told the trust he wished to retire and would not be returning to teaching in schools.
BYMT said that when it was informed of Mr Eccott’s arrest, it immediately withdrew him from all school activities and notified the relevant authorities of what it had discovered.
On September 15 2022, Mr Eccott pleaded guilty to and was convicted of: 1) one count of distributing an indecent photograph, namely two category C images of a child; and 2) two counts of making indecent photographs, namely nine category B indecent images of a child and twelve category C images of a child.
The following month he was sentenced to a community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement until 16 April 2024. He was also fined £220 and ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £90, and to pay costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service. Mr Eccott was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
BYMT said Kent Police confirmed Mr Eccott’s conviction to them in March 2023. Following this confirmation, they referred his case to the TRA.
In his submission to the conduct panel—which took place earlier this month—Mr Eccott said he should have pleaded not guilty as he did not recognise some of the descriptions of the images he had allegedly posted. He claimed he did not have sufficient legal advice at the time.
In July 2024 following the conclusion of Mr Eccott’s community order, the TRA received an email claiming he was continuing to provide piano lessons to 16 children as “he does not feel as though he is a risk”.
The conduct panel felt as if this, alongside Mr Eccott’s own submissions which focused on his previous good character and the personal impact of the proceedings upon him, showed the man had not expressed clear remorse for his actions.
In his report, decision maker David Oatley said: “In my judgement, the lack of insight and remorse means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of children.”
A Bromley Youth Music Trust spokesperson said: “We respect and fully support the TRA’s regulatory process and its role in protecting children, young people, and the wider teaching profession.
“We understand this will be of concern to parents/carers and would reassure you that safeguarding remains our highest priority. We are committed to maintaining rigorous safeguarding procedures, ensuring that all staff and visiting professionals undergo enhanced checks, and responding swiftly and transparently to any concerns.
“As this is now a concluded legal and regulatory process, we will not be making further comment.”
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