A pervert driving instructor worked as a minicab driver for disabled children on behalf of Kent County Council, the Chronicle can reveal.
Matthew Ottley, 40, formerly of High Street, Westerham, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and arranging or facilitating child prostitution or pornography.
He previously ran the Edenbridge-based minicab company Matt’s Taxis, which he stood down from in March 2014.
During his time as a minicab driver Ottley was on the council’s list of recommended drivers for transporting disabled children to school.
A Kent County Council spokesman said: “KCC held taxi contracts with Mr Ottley until summer 2014. We did not receive any complaints about him.”
He also ran Westerham-based driving school I Drive Safely, which was an AA franchise.
A spokesman from the AA said: “We suspended this individual as soon as we heard about these serious allegations last summer, and he then resigned while under suspension. At the time, he had a clear DBS check.”
They added that in the future after his release, “he would not be offered a franchise as any potential instructor must have a clean DBS check”.
A Sexual Harm Prevention Order has been issued against Ottley for 10 years, which means he will have to follow strict restrictions around children and when using the internet after his release.
Detective constable Caroline White said: “Ottley planned to film these young girls for his own gratification and while thankfully this didn’t take place, the consequences of his intentions are likely to remain with his victims for a long time. Both of these girls did the right thing in telling staff at their school of their concerns.
“Their courage has ensured that Ottley has been brought to justice and I hope now that both of these children and their families can move on with their lives.”
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