Case of Andrew Josephs
(AKA: Case of the Unnamed Teacher at Michael Sobell Sinai School)
(AKA: Case of the Unnamed Teacher at Michael Sobell Sinai School)
Hebrew Teacher - Parklands Court, Edgware, UK
Teacher at Michael Sobell Sinai School - Kenton, England
Andrew Josephs was teacher at the Michael Sobell Sinai School when allegations of sexual
assault against children was originally made.
He was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison. He was also disqualified from working with children, having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 or using the internet to access pornography.
Andrew Josephs will also remain on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
Originally charged with five counts of indecent assault, possession of indecent photographs of children, three of sexual assault of a child and two of abuse of trust between December 8, 2003, and August 4, 2004.
He was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison. He was also disqualified from working with children, having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 or using the internet to access pornography.
Andrew Josephs will also remain on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
Originally charged with five counts of indecent assault, possession of indecent photographs of children, three of sexual assault of a child and two of abuse of trust between December 8, 2003, and August 4, 2004.
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Table of Contents:
2004
2006
2007
2004
- Assault Allegations (08/19/2004)
2006
- Edgware teacher charged with assaults on children (02/08/2006)
- Jewish Teacher 'Abused Boys In Lessons (02/08/2006)
- Paedophile teacher jailed (03/21/2006)
- Teacher jailed for abusing 12-year-old boys (03/21/2006)
- Two-Year Sentence For Teacher (03/23/2006)
- Teacher jailed for abusing 12-year-old boys (03/23/2006)
- Private teacher jailed for sex attacks on boys (03/23/2006)
- Jewish media round-up (03/26/2006)
2007
- Would you let a child abuser back into your shul? (03/09/2007)
- Stanmore bans child sex offender from shul (05/11/2007)
- Synagogue bans sex offender from premises (05/13/2007)
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Assault Allegations
by TJ Reporter
Totally Jewish.com (UK) - August 19, 2004
A teacher at the Michael Sobell Sinai school was at
the centre of a police investigation this week amid allegations of sexual
assault against children.
 |
| Michael Sobell Sinai School |
A spokesman for Brent council said: "Allegations of
sexual assault on secondary age children receiving home tuition, who are
not pupils at Michael Sobell Sinai, have been made against a teacher at the
school.
"No-one has yet been suspended, but appropriate action
is being taken by the school and Brent local education authority."
A police spokeswoman said: "Barnet and Enfield child
protection unit is investigating allegations of sexual assault on two 12-year-old
boys in the Barnet and Harrow area by a private tutor."
She said the allegations were reported to police on
3 August, and a 27-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the
inquiry.
The man was bailed to return to Colindale police station
next month pending further inquiries.
Edgware teacher charged with assaults on
children
City Neighbours - February 8, 2006
Andrew Josephs, 27 year old teacher of Parklands Court, Edgware will be appearing at Brent Municipal Court at the end of March
He was charged in August with multiple counts of indecent assault on boys, sexual activity with boys, possession of indecent photographs of children and abuse of a position of trust.
Synagogue bans sex offender from premises European Jewish Press - May 13, 2007
LONDON (EJP)---A London synagogue has banned a convicted child sex offender from its premises indefinitely and plans to exclude all such offenders in future, the Jewish Chronicle reports today.
Andrew Josephs, 29, who is currently serving a sentence of two years and nine months for sexually abusing two boys in his barmitzvah class, is due for release in July.
But he will not be permitted to pray at the Stanmore Synagogue in North West London, where he is a member, because of parental fears about child safety.
Josephs, a former primary school teacher, was convicted in February last year and had requested to return to the synagogue's congregation upon his release.
A special committee appointed to decide his case recommended Josephs should be banned along with all those "charged or convicted of similar offences".
Dr Nigel de Kare Silver, a synagogue official, said after discussions with the United Synagogue the decision was made to "exclude the individual concerned from synagogue premises and activities, and that such exclusion should be indefinite."
Parents at the synagogue were asked in a questionnaire whether Josephs should be given limited or no access to the building.
A United Synagogue spokesman said: "The United Synagogue is extremely respectful of the very difficult decision that Stanmore's honorary officers reached, taking into account all the relevant circumstances."
Stanmore bans child sex offender from shul
By Leon Symons
Jewish Chronicle - May 11, 2007
A leading Orthodox synagogue has chosen to ban indefinitely a convicted child sex offender, due to be released from prison later this year, who wanted to return to pray in its congregation.
Andrew Josephs, 29, a member of Stanmore Synagogue in North-West London and a former teacher at Michael Sobell Sinai primary school, was convicted in February last year of sexually abusing two barmitzvah boys he was teaching. He was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court to two years and nine months in prison, and is due to be released in July.
In a letter to the synagogue's members, warden Dr Nigel de Kare Silver said the decision to ban Josephs had been reached only after a lengthy consultation exercise carried out by a specially appointed committee.
Dr de Kare Silver said: "Following this consultation exercise and further discussions with the board of management and the United Synagogue, the special committee recommended that the honorary executive and ministers exclude the individual concerned from synagogue premises and activities, and that such exclusion should be indefinite."
He said the recommendation had been accepted by all parties and that Josephs and his family had been told.
The letter also made it clear that "any other individual who has been charged or convicted of similar offences... unless individual circumstances require otherwise, that individual will also be excluded from the synagogue premises".
The special committee, which included synagogue ministers Rabbis Mendel Lew and Andrew Shaw, consulted police, probation services, child agencies and the United Synagogue.
Initially the synagogue asked the US if it had a child-protection policy and was told it did not, so it drew up its own. A draft document from the US, setting out its own guidelines on child protection, was published last week at the same time as Stanmore's decision went out to its members.
On the advice of the US trustees, Stanmore sent a questionnaire to synagogue members with children, asking whether Josephs should have either limited, or no access, at the synagogue.
Stanmore's decision drew praise from the US and also the Reform and Liberal movements, which are drawing up their own joint child-protection document.
The US document covers all aspects of child protection but falls short of recommending the total banning of convicted sex offenders from its synagogues.
It states: "Children should be protected from those who have committed offences against children, even after any sentence of the court has expired."
It adds that synagogues should be notified in advance of sex offenders' attendance, that they should be restricted to events where children are not present, and that they must be accompanied at all times, even to the bathroom.
A US spokesman said: "The US is extremely respectful of the very difficult decision that Stanmore's honorary officers reached, taking into account all the relevant circumstances.
"The US document is advisory: it cannot be prescriptive because there are a number of communities which have particular circumstances about which they will need to react."
Debi Penhey, communities consultant at Leo Baeck College, who is overseeing a child-protection policy for the progressive movements, commented: "I am not surprised the synagogue has banned him. I think one would have to, because the majority of people in a synagogue would be so scared and nervous. The welfare of the community as a whole has to come first."
Andrew Josephs, 27 year old teacher of Parklands Court, Edgware will be appearing at Brent Municipal Court at the end of March
He was charged in August with multiple counts of indecent assault on boys, sexual activity with boys, possession of indecent photographs of children and abuse of a position of trust.
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Jewish Teacher 'Abused Boys In Lessons'
LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) - A 12-year-old schoolboy has told how he was sexually abused by his Jewish teacher during his bar mitzvah lessons.
Hebrew teacher Andrew Josephs, 28, allegedly 'groomed' him and other boys under the cover of preparing them for their Jewish coming of age ceremony.
One of the children, now 14, told how Josephs, who also ran a local youth football team, would grab his groin if he answered a religious question incorrectly.
The boy also said his teacher plied him with gifts and sweets then asked to see his private parts to check that he was 'physically mature' enough for his bar mitzvah.
Josephs also had a stash of photos of half-naked boys sleeping and wrestling and a collection of stories with titles like Daredevils In Speedos, featuring 'intimate relationships' between boys and men, the court heard.
In a video interview played to the jury, the boy told Wood Green Crown Court: "He said 'to do this you have to be a man.' 'You have to have pubic hair.' I said 'Where?' and he said 'your privates.' So he asked me if I had and I said 'yes.'
"He said 'Can I have a look at your pubic hair to see if your a man?' Then he touched it.
"I was quite nervous because I did not feel it was right at the time and my mum had not mentioned that he was going to do that. I was scared, worried and sad."
The boy, who had attended several lessons with Josephs, went on: "Normally in lessons when I'm reading and I get a word wrong he puts his hand where my privates are and grabs it around there. So I kept trying to get the word right. I was really worrying. I was really panicking."
The court also heard how Josephs took the boy on trips away and would wrestle and pillow fight with him and his friends in their room.
After one such trip Josephs sent the boy a text message reading: "I'm sorry I never got to say good night", the court heard.
The alarm was raised after the boy confided in his mother who then called police.
Simon Connolly, prosecuting, said Josephs abused another pupil, also 12, at the paid-for lessons.
Mr Connolly said: "The Crown says what the defendant is doing is in fact grooming these children. He is behaving in a way that as adults we all know is not normal or appropriate, but the child does not know this. He is normalising it so that the young lad does not know whether it is right or wrong.
"The second boy also gives a similar account of touching and so forth."
Josephs invited the third boy to his flat in Edgware, north west London, to watch action movie The Matrix, the court heard.
Mr Connolly said: "Is this the defendant contriving an opportunity to be alone with the little boy? As he got up to go to the toilet the defendant reached around behind him and grabbed his bottom."
Describing CDs of photographs seized from Joseph's address, Mr Connolly said: "We see a boy asleep, not fully clothed. The next photo is of boys tussling on a bed. We say these are obviously images of interest to somebody sexually interested in children."
Josephs also had 13 stories, downloaded from the internet site gaycafe.com, which featured elicit affairs between pre-teens and grown men, the curt heard.
Mr Connolly told the court that one, called The Unconventional Family, began: "I'm not sure when I first realised my fascination with boys and their incredible bodies. I do know my most intense fascination is with boys aged 10 to 13."
Although the stories were in themselves not illegal, Mr Connolly added: "They all show a specific interest in sexual activity with young boys. Seven out of 13 of the stories are about sexual activity between teachers and the children in their care."
Josephs, who hung his head throughout proceedings, told police he had the stories because a friend had written them.
He denies five counts of indecent assault, three of sexual assault of a child and two of abuse of trust between December 8, 2003, and August 4, 2004. He claims the boy's have concocted their stories.
The trial, expected to last four weeks, continues
Jewish Teacher 'Abused Boys In Lessons'
LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) - A 12-year-old schoolboy has told how he was sexually abused by his Jewish teacher during his bar mitzvah lessons.
Hebrew teacher Andrew Josephs, 28, allegedly 'groomed' him and other boys under the cover of preparing them for their Jewish coming of age ceremony.
One of the children, now 14, told how Josephs, who also ran a local youth football team, would grab his groin if he answered a religious question incorrectly.
The boy also said his teacher plied him with gifts and sweets then asked to see his private parts to check that he was 'physically mature' enough for his bar mitzvah.
Josephs also had a stash of photos of half-naked boys sleeping and wrestling and a collection of stories with titles like Daredevils In Speedos, featuring 'intimate relationships' between boys and men, the court heard.
In a video interview played to the jury, the boy told Wood Green Crown Court: "He said 'to do this you have to be a man.' 'You have to have pubic hair.' I said 'Where?' and he said 'your privates.' So he asked me if I had and I said 'yes.'
"He said 'Can I have a look at your pubic hair to see if your a man?' Then he touched it.
"I was quite nervous because I did not feel it was right at the time and my mum had not mentioned that he was going to do that. I was scared, worried and sad."
The boy, who had attended several lessons with Josephs, went on: "Normally in lessons when I'm reading and I get a word wrong he puts his hand where my privates are and grabs it around there. So I kept trying to get the word right. I was really worrying. I was really panicking."
The court also heard how Josephs took the boy on trips away and would wrestle and pillow fight with him and his friends in their room.
After one such trip Josephs sent the boy a text message reading: "I'm sorry I never got to say good night", the court heard.
The alarm was raised after the boy confided in his mother who then called police.
Simon Connolly, prosecuting, said Josephs abused another pupil, also 12, at the paid-for lessons.
Mr Connolly said: "The Crown says what the defendant is doing is in fact grooming these children. He is behaving in a way that as adults we all know is not normal or appropriate, but the child does not know this. He is normalising it so that the young lad does not know whether it is right or wrong.
"The second boy also gives a similar account of touching and so forth."
Josephs invited the third boy to his flat in Edgware, north west London, to watch action movie The Matrix, the court heard.
Mr Connolly said: "Is this the defendant contriving an opportunity to be alone with the little boy? As he got up to go to the toilet the defendant reached around behind him and grabbed his bottom."
Describing CDs of photographs seized from Joseph's address, Mr Connolly said: "We see a boy asleep, not fully clothed. The next photo is of boys tussling on a bed. We say these are obviously images of interest to somebody sexually interested in children."
Josephs also had 13 stories, downloaded from the internet site gaycafe.com, which featured elicit affairs between pre-teens and grown men, the curt heard.
Mr Connolly told the court that one, called The Unconventional Family, began: "I'm not sure when I first realised my fascination with boys and their incredible bodies. I do know my most intense fascination is with boys aged 10 to 13."
Although the stories were in themselves not illegal, Mr Connolly added: "They all show a specific interest in sexual activity with young boys. Seven out of 13 of the stories are about sexual activity between teachers and the children in their care."
Josephs, who hung his head throughout proceedings, told police he had the stories because a friend had written them.
He denies five counts of indecent assault, three of sexual assault of a child and two of abuse of trust between December 8, 2003, and August 4, 2004. He claims the boy's have concocted their stories.
The trial, expected to last four weeks, continues
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Paedophile teacher jailed
National Union of Teachers - March 21, 2006
A teacher who sexually abused two 12-year old boys has been jailed by London's Wood Green crown court.
Andrew Josephs, 28, was sentenced for two years and nine months for four counts of indecent assault on the victims.
The boys were abused by Mr Josephs during private lessons at the teachers' house, with charges of the possession of indecent photographs of children also given.
Detective Sergeant Diane Lesley, told the Guardian after sentencing: "Andrew Josephs was a respected member of the community entrusted with the care of children.
"These offences were a grave abuse of that position of trust."
The investigation into Mr Josephs' conduct was launched in August of 2004 after parents complained that he had indecently touched their son.
Mr Josephs has now been banned from working with children and has been given a further offences prevention order to stop him having unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16.
Paedophile teacher jailed
National Union of Teachers - March 21, 2006
A teacher who sexually abused two 12-year old boys has been jailed by London's Wood Green crown court.
Andrew Josephs, 28, was sentenced for two years and nine months for four counts of indecent assault on the victims.
The boys were abused by Mr Josephs during private lessons at the teachers' house, with charges of the possession of indecent photographs of children also given.
Detective Sergeant Diane Lesley, told the Guardian after sentencing: "Andrew Josephs was a respected member of the community entrusted with the care of children.
"These offences were a grave abuse of that position of trust."
The investigation into Mr Josephs' conduct was launched in August of 2004 after parents complained that he had indecently touched their son.
Mr Josephs has now been banned from working with children and has been given a further offences prevention order to stop him having unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16.
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Teacher jailed for abusing 12-year-old boys
Guardian Unlimited - Tuesday March 21, 2006
A teacher who sexually abused two boys during private lessons at his home was jailed today.
Andrew Josephs, 28, was jailed for two years and nine months at London's Wood Green crown court on four counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual activity with boys.
His victims were both 12-years-old when he attacked them at his home in Edgware, west London, two years ago.
His conviction is "a testament to the courage of the boys involved," Detective Sergeant Diane Lesley said after sentencing.
Police launched an investigation in August 2004 after a parent complained that Josephs had inappropriately touched her son during a tutoring session.
Other boys later came forward to police with complaints.
Ms Lesley said: "Andrew Josephs was a respected member of the community entrusted with the care of children. These offences were a grave abuse of that position of trust.
"Other victims of child abuse should be encouraged not to suffer in silence, but to speak out and help us put a stop to this."
Josephs, who privately tutored 12 and 13-year-old boys at his home, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for four counts of indecent assault on boy A, and nine months for two counts of sexual activity on boy B.
He has been banned from working with children. A further sex offences prevention order was made to stop him from having unsupervised contact with children under 16 and using the internet to access pornography.
Josephs was charged with four counts of indecent assault on boys, four counts of sexual activity with boys, five counts of possession of indecent photographs of children and three counts of abuse of a position of trust in March last year.
The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the possession of indecent child photographs charges before the trial.
The judge directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts on abuse of the position of trust charges.
Teacher jailed for abusing 12-year-old boys
Guardian Unlimited - Tuesday March 21, 2006
A teacher who sexually abused two boys during private lessons at his home was jailed today.
Andrew Josephs, 28, was jailed for two years and nine months at London's Wood Green crown court on four counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual activity with boys.
His victims were both 12-years-old when he attacked them at his home in Edgware, west London, two years ago.
His conviction is "a testament to the courage of the boys involved," Detective Sergeant Diane Lesley said after sentencing.
Police launched an investigation in August 2004 after a parent complained that Josephs had inappropriately touched her son during a tutoring session.
Other boys later came forward to police with complaints.
Ms Lesley said: "Andrew Josephs was a respected member of the community entrusted with the care of children. These offences were a grave abuse of that position of trust.
"Other victims of child abuse should be encouraged not to suffer in silence, but to speak out and help us put a stop to this."
Josephs, who privately tutored 12 and 13-year-old boys at his home, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for four counts of indecent assault on boy A, and nine months for two counts of sexual activity on boy B.
He has been banned from working with children. A further sex offences prevention order was made to stop him from having unsupervised contact with children under 16 and using the internet to access pornography.
Josephs was charged with four counts of indecent assault on boys, four counts of sexual activity with boys, five counts of possession of indecent photographs of children and three counts of abuse of a position of trust in March last year.
The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the possession of indecent child photographs charges before the trial.
The judge directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts on abuse of the position of trust charges.
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Two-Year Sentence For Teacher
By TJ Reporter
(UK) Totally Jewish - Thursday 23rd of March 2006
A Jewish teacher who sexually abused two bar mitzvah students during tutoring sessions at his home was this week jailed for more than two years.
Andrew Josephs, 28, of Edgware, was last month found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court of four counts of indecent assault on one boy and two counts of sexual activity on a second child. Both boys were 12-years-old at the time of the incidents.
Joesphs was also disqualified from working with children, having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 or using the internet to access pornography. He will also remain on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
Detective Superintendent Diane Lesley said: "This result is a testament to the courage of the boys involved. Andrew Josephs was a respected member of the community entrusted with the care of children, these offences were a grave abuse of that position of trust."
Parents have been advised to exercise caution when choosing to leave an unaccompanied child at the home of any private tutor.
Two-Year Sentence For Teacher
By TJ Reporter
(UK) Totally Jewish - Thursday 23rd of March 2006
A Jewish teacher who sexually abused two bar mitzvah students during tutoring sessions at his home was this week jailed for more than two years.
Andrew Josephs, 28, of Edgware, was last month found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court of four counts of indecent assault on one boy and two counts of sexual activity on a second child. Both boys were 12-years-old at the time of the incidents.
Joesphs was also disqualified from working with children, having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 or using the internet to access pornography. He will also remain on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
Detective Superintendent Diane Lesley said: "This result is a testament to the courage of the boys involved. Andrew Josephs was a respected member of the community entrusted with the care of children, these offences were a grave abuse of that position of trust."
Parents have been advised to exercise caution when choosing to leave an unaccompanied child at the home of any private tutor.
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Teacher jailed for abusing 12-year-old boys
Press Association - Tuesday March 21, 2006
A teacher who sexually abused two boys during private lessons at his home was jailed today.
Andrew Josephs, 28, was jailed for two years and nine months at London's Wood Green crown court on four counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual activity with boys.
His victims were both 12-years-old when he attacked them at his home in Edgware, west London, two years ago.
His conviction is "a testament to the courage of the boys involved," Detective Sergeant Diane Lesley said after sentencing.
Police launched an investigation in August 2004 after a parent complained that Josephs had inappropriately touched her son during a tutoring session.
Other boys later came forward to police with complaints.
Ms Lesley said: "Andrew Josephs was a respected member of the community entrusted with the care of children. These offences were a grave abuse of that position of trust.
"Other victims of child abuse should be encouraged not to suffer in silence, but to speak out and help us put a stop to this."
Josephs, who privately tutored 12 and 13-year-old boys at his home, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for four counts of indecent assault on boy A, and nine months for two counts of sexual activity on boy B.
He has been banned from working with children. A further sex offences prevention order was made to stop him from having unsupervised contact with children under 16 and using the internet to access pornography.
Josephs was charged with four counts of indecent assault on boys, four counts of sexual activity with boys, five counts of possession of indecent photographs of children and three counts of abuse of a position of trust in March last year.
The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the possession of indecent child photographs charges before the trial.
The judge directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts on abuse of the position of trust charges.
Teacher jailed for abusing 12-year-old boys
Press Association - Tuesday March 21, 2006
A teacher who sexually abused two boys during private lessons at his home was jailed today.
Andrew Josephs, 28, was jailed for two years and nine months at London's Wood Green crown court on four counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual activity with boys.
His victims were both 12-years-old when he attacked them at his home in Edgware, west London, two years ago.
His conviction is "a testament to the courage of the boys involved," Detective Sergeant Diane Lesley said after sentencing.
Police launched an investigation in August 2004 after a parent complained that Josephs had inappropriately touched her son during a tutoring session.
Other boys later came forward to police with complaints.
Ms Lesley said: "Andrew Josephs was a respected member of the community entrusted with the care of children. These offences were a grave abuse of that position of trust.
"Other victims of child abuse should be encouraged not to suffer in silence, but to speak out and help us put a stop to this."
Josephs, who privately tutored 12 and 13-year-old boys at his home, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for four counts of indecent assault on boy A, and nine months for two counts of sexual activity on boy B.
He has been banned from working with children. A further sex offences prevention order was made to stop him from having unsupervised contact with children under 16 and using the internet to access pornography.
Josephs was charged with four counts of indecent assault on boys, four counts of sexual activity with boys, five counts of possession of indecent photographs of children and three counts of abuse of a position of trust in March last year.
The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the possession of indecent child photographs charges before the trial.
The judge directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts on abuse of the position of trust charges.
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Private teacher jailed for sex attacks on boys
By Marcus Dysch
Edgware Times - March 23, 2006
A teacher from Edgware who gave private tuition to children at his home was this week jailed for two years and nine months for sexually abusing two boys.
Andrew Josephs, 28, of Parklands Court, Edgware Way, Edgware, was found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on February 27 of four charges of indecent assault and two counts of sexual activity with boys.
He was sentenced on Tuesday for the assaults on the boys, who were both aged 12 at the time of the incidents in 2004, and was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.
Josephs was jailed for two years for four indecent assaults on one boy, and a further nine months for two incidents of sexual activity on a second child.
The conviction followed a detailed investigation by Barnet police's child abuse investigation team.
Detective Sergeant Diane Lesley, speaking for the team, said: "This result is a testament to the courage of the boys involved.
"Andrew Josephs was a respected member of the community entrusted with the care of children these offences were a grave abuse of that position of trust.
"Other victims of child abuse should be encouraged not to suffer in silence but to speak out and help us put a stop to this."
Josephs was also disqualified from working with children and a Sex Offences Prevention Order was made to stop him from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16. He was also banned from using the internet to access pornography.
Private teacher jailed for sex attacks on boys
By Marcus Dysch
Edgware Times - March 23, 2006
A teacher from Edgware who gave private tuition to children at his home was this week jailed for two years and nine months for sexually abusing two boys.
Andrew Josephs, 28, of Parklands Court, Edgware Way, Edgware, was found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on February 27 of four charges of indecent assault and two counts of sexual activity with boys.
He was sentenced on Tuesday for the assaults on the boys, who were both aged 12 at the time of the incidents in 2004, and was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.
Josephs was jailed for two years for four indecent assaults on one boy, and a further nine months for two incidents of sexual activity on a second child.
The conviction followed a detailed investigation by Barnet police's child abuse investigation team.
Detective Sergeant Diane Lesley, speaking for the team, said: "This result is a testament to the courage of the boys involved.
"Andrew Josephs was a respected member of the community entrusted with the care of children these offences were a grave abuse of that position of trust.
"Other victims of child abuse should be encouraged not to suffer in silence but to speak out and help us put a stop to this."
Josephs was also disqualified from working with children and a Sex Offences Prevention Order was made to stop him from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16. He was also banned from using the internet to access pornography.
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Jewish media round-up
by: Leslie Bunder
Something Jewish - March 26, 2006
The Jewish Chronicle reports that a primary school teacher who was giving barmitzvah lessons has been jailed for 33 months for sexually abusing two barmitzvah students. Andrew Josephs, 28 was found guilty on six counts relating to offences committed to the boys. The Agency for Jewish Education has said it will be "tightening up procedures".
Jewish media round-up
by: Leslie Bunder
Something Jewish - March 26, 2006
The Jewish Chronicle reports that a primary school teacher who was giving barmitzvah lessons has been jailed for 33 months for sexually abusing two barmitzvah students. Andrew Josephs, 28 was found guilty on six counts relating to offences committed to the boys. The Agency for Jewish Education has said it will be "tightening up procedures".
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Would you let a child abuser back into your shul?
By Leon Symons
Jewish Chronicle - March 9, 2007
A leading Orthodox congregation sent members a questionnaire last week to seek their views on whether to admit back into the synagogue a convicted child-sex offender who is due to be released this summer from prison.
Stanmore United Synagogue, in North-West London, acted over Andrew Josephs, a synagogue member and former teacher at Michael Sobell Sinai primary school in Kenton, who was jailed in February last year for sexually abusing two barmitzvah boys he was teaching. He was found guilty under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 at Wood Green Crown Court, and sentenced to two years and nine months. He is due to be released on licence.
Synagogue warden Dr Nigel de Kare Silver told the JC this week: "We had to prepare for this man's release for the safety of everyone in the community, including him. This was a discussion that had to happen. Doing nothing was not an option. It's for the community to give its view about the direction in which we should go."
Dr de Kare Silver, a GP, said that verbal threats against Andrew Josephs had already been made. "He could come into the synagogue and someone could hit him. Conversely, if someone sat behind him and wound him up, he could turn round and hit them. We had to consider all of this."
The board has set up a committee, including Rabbi Mendel Lew and youth director Rabbi Andrew Shaw, to draw up a new child-protection policy. It has also sent to 350 members who might be most affected, including families with children and young adults, a letter seeking views on the circumstances under which Andrew Josephs would be allowed to enter the synagogue.
"We asked the United Synagogue what we should do and they said it was local decision-making. At the time of the conviction, we said we needed help and guidance to draw up a youth and protection policy. This is a very big synagogue with a large youth population."
Options under consideration and set out in the shul's letter include:
Dr de Kare Silver said that before drawing up the policy document, the committee had consulted widely with Josephs' family, lawyers, human-rights experts, the police and the probation service. There were also discussions with the United Synagogue about the conditions pertaining to Josephs, rather than the policy document.
"We asked the US if there was a policy and they said they were writing one. But nothing happened, so we made our own. The policy gives the honorary executives the discretion to ban anyone from the synagogue. It is such a substantial step to contemplate. We have been working hard as a group of people to do the best for our congregation.
"It was not our intention, at the outset of our discussions, to ban him. We wanted to draw up criteria under which he could return to the community."
Dr de Kare Silver added: "We considered human-rights issues and the Human Rights Act. We understood from lawyers in the community that we had to balance the rights of the individual with the rights of groups. They both have to be looked at.
"It has taken a long time to produce this. There is no witch hunt against Josephs, but we were aware that we needed something in place."
Would you let a child abuser back into your shul?
By Leon Symons
Jewish Chronicle - March 9, 2007
A leading Orthodox congregation sent members a questionnaire last week to seek their views on whether to admit back into the synagogue a convicted child-sex offender who is due to be released this summer from prison.
Stanmore United Synagogue, in North-West London, acted over Andrew Josephs, a synagogue member and former teacher at Michael Sobell Sinai primary school in Kenton, who was jailed in February last year for sexually abusing two barmitzvah boys he was teaching. He was found guilty under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 at Wood Green Crown Court, and sentenced to two years and nine months. He is due to be released on licence.
Synagogue warden Dr Nigel de Kare Silver told the JC this week: "We had to prepare for this man's release for the safety of everyone in the community, including him. This was a discussion that had to happen. Doing nothing was not an option. It's for the community to give its view about the direction in which we should go."
Dr de Kare Silver, a GP, said that verbal threats against Andrew Josephs had already been made. "He could come into the synagogue and someone could hit him. Conversely, if someone sat behind him and wound him up, he could turn round and hit them. We had to consider all of this."
The board has set up a committee, including Rabbi Mendel Lew and youth director Rabbi Andrew Shaw, to draw up a new child-protection policy. It has also sent to 350 members who might be most affected, including families with children and young adults, a letter seeking views on the circumstances under which Andrew Josephs would be allowed to enter the synagogue.
"We asked the United Synagogue what we should do and they said it was local decision-making. At the time of the conviction, we said we needed help and guidance to draw up a youth and protection policy. This is a very big synagogue with a large youth population."
Options under consideration and set out in the shul's letter include:
- Josephs could attend only the main adult service and be chaperoned all the time;
- He must leave immediately after the end of the main service;
- He would not be allowed into any other area of the synagogue or any synagogue-organised activity off the premises, including corridors, community centre, kiddushim and clubs.
Dr de Kare Silver said that before drawing up the policy document, the committee had consulted widely with Josephs' family, lawyers, human-rights experts, the police and the probation service. There were also discussions with the United Synagogue about the conditions pertaining to Josephs, rather than the policy document.
"We asked the US if there was a policy and they said they were writing one. But nothing happened, so we made our own. The policy gives the honorary executives the discretion to ban anyone from the synagogue. It is such a substantial step to contemplate. We have been working hard as a group of people to do the best for our congregation.
"It was not our intention, at the outset of our discussions, to ban him. We wanted to draw up criteria under which he could return to the community."
Dr de Kare Silver added: "We considered human-rights issues and the Human Rights Act. We understood from lawyers in the community that we had to balance the rights of the individual with the rights of groups. They both have to be looked at.
"It has taken a long time to produce this. There is no witch hunt against Josephs, but we were aware that we needed something in place."
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Stanmore bans child sex offender from shul
By Leon Symons
Jewish Chronical - May 11, 2007
A leading Orthodox synagogue has chosen to ban indefinitely a convicted child sex offender, due to be released from prison later this year, who wanted to return to pray in its congregation.
Andrew Josephs, 29, a member of Stanmore Synagogue in North-West London and a former teacher at Michael Sobell Sinai primary school, was convicted in February last year of sexually abusing two barmitzvah boys he was teaching. He was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court to two years and nine months in prison, and is due to be released in July.
In a letter to the synagogue's members, warden Dr Nigel de Kare Silver said the decision to ban Josephs had been reached only after a lengthy consultation exercise carried out by a specially appointed committee.
Dr de Kare Silver said: "Following this consultation exercise and further discussions with the board of management and the United Synagogue, the special committee recommended that the honorary executive and ministers exclude the individual concerned from synagogue premises and activities, and that such exclusion should be indefinite."
He said the recommendation had been accepted by all parties and that Josephs and his family had been told.
The letter also made it clear that "any other individual who has been charged or convicted of similar offences... unless individual circumstances require otherwise, that individual will also be excluded from the synagogue premises".
The special committee, which included synagogue ministers Rabbis Mendel Lew and Andrew Shaw, consulted police, probation services, child agencies and the United Synagogue.
Initially the synagogue asked the US if it had a child-protection policy and was told it did not, so it drew up its own. A draft document from the US, setting out its own guidelines on child protection, was published last week at the same time as Stanmore's decision went out to its members.
On the advice of the US trustees, Stanmore sent a questionnaire to synagogue members with children, asking whether Josephs should have either limited, or no access, at the synagogue.
Stanmore's decision drew praise from the US and also the Reform and Liberal movements, which are drawing up their own joint child-protection document.
The US document covers all aspects of child protection but falls short of recommending the total banning of convicted sex offenders from its synagogues.
It states: "Children should be protected from those who have committed offences against children, even after any sentence of the court has expired."
It adds that synagogues should be notified in advance of sex offenders' attendance, that they should be restricted to events where children are not present, and that they must be accompanied at all times, even to the bathroom.
A US spokesman said: "The US is extremely respectful of the very difficult decision that Stanmore's honorary officers reached, taking into account all the relevant circumstances.
"The US document is advisory: it cannot be prescriptive because there are a number of communities which have particular circumstances about which they will need to react."
Debi Penhey, communities consultant at Leo Baeck College, who is overseeing a child-protection policy for the progressive movements, commented: "I am not surprised the synagogue has banned him. I think one would have to, because the majority of people in a synagogue would be so scared and nervous. The welfare of the community as a whole has to come first."
Stanmore bans child sex offender from shul
By Leon Symons
Jewish Chronical - May 11, 2007
A leading Orthodox synagogue has chosen to ban indefinitely a convicted child sex offender, due to be released from prison later this year, who wanted to return to pray in its congregation.
Andrew Josephs, 29, a member of Stanmore Synagogue in North-West London and a former teacher at Michael Sobell Sinai primary school, was convicted in February last year of sexually abusing two barmitzvah boys he was teaching. He was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court to two years and nine months in prison, and is due to be released in July.
In a letter to the synagogue's members, warden Dr Nigel de Kare Silver said the decision to ban Josephs had been reached only after a lengthy consultation exercise carried out by a specially appointed committee.
Dr de Kare Silver said: "Following this consultation exercise and further discussions with the board of management and the United Synagogue, the special committee recommended that the honorary executive and ministers exclude the individual concerned from synagogue premises and activities, and that such exclusion should be indefinite."
He said the recommendation had been accepted by all parties and that Josephs and his family had been told.
The letter also made it clear that "any other individual who has been charged or convicted of similar offences... unless individual circumstances require otherwise, that individual will also be excluded from the synagogue premises".
The special committee, which included synagogue ministers Rabbis Mendel Lew and Andrew Shaw, consulted police, probation services, child agencies and the United Synagogue.
Initially the synagogue asked the US if it had a child-protection policy and was told it did not, so it drew up its own. A draft document from the US, setting out its own guidelines on child protection, was published last week at the same time as Stanmore's decision went out to its members.
On the advice of the US trustees, Stanmore sent a questionnaire to synagogue members with children, asking whether Josephs should have either limited, or no access, at the synagogue.
Stanmore's decision drew praise from the US and also the Reform and Liberal movements, which are drawing up their own joint child-protection document.
The US document covers all aspects of child protection but falls short of recommending the total banning of convicted sex offenders from its synagogues.
It states: "Children should be protected from those who have committed offences against children, even after any sentence of the court has expired."
It adds that synagogues should be notified in advance of sex offenders' attendance, that they should be restricted to events where children are not present, and that they must be accompanied at all times, even to the bathroom.
A US spokesman said: "The US is extremely respectful of the very difficult decision that Stanmore's honorary officers reached, taking into account all the relevant circumstances.
"The US document is advisory: it cannot be prescriptive because there are a number of communities which have particular circumstances about which they will need to react."
Debi Penhey, communities consultant at Leo Baeck College, who is overseeing a child-protection policy for the progressive movements, commented: "I am not surprised the synagogue has banned him. I think one would have to, because the majority of people in a synagogue would be so scared and nervous. The welfare of the community as a whole has to come first."
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Synagogue bans sex offender from premises European Jewish Press - May 13, 2007
LONDON (EJP)---A London synagogue has banned a convicted child sex offender from its premises indefinitely and plans to exclude all such offenders in future, the Jewish Chronicle reports today.
Andrew Josephs, 29, who is currently serving a sentence of two years and nine months for sexually abusing two boys in his barmitzvah class, is due for release in July.
But he will not be permitted to pray at the Stanmore Synagogue in North West London, where he is a member, because of parental fears about child safety.
Josephs, a former primary school teacher, was convicted in February last year and had requested to return to the synagogue's congregation upon his release.
A special committee appointed to decide his case recommended Josephs should be banned along with all those "charged or convicted of similar offences".
Dr Nigel de Kare Silver, a synagogue official, said after discussions with the United Synagogue the decision was made to "exclude the individual concerned from synagogue premises and activities, and that such exclusion should be indefinite."
Parents at the synagogue were asked in a questionnaire whether Josephs should be given limited or no access to the building.
A United Synagogue spokesman said: "The United Synagogue is extremely respectful of the very difficult decision that Stanmore's honorary officers reached, taking into account all the relevant circumstances."
__________________________________________________________________________________
By Leon Symons
Jewish Chronicle - May 11, 2007
A leading Orthodox synagogue has chosen to ban indefinitely a convicted child sex offender, due to be released from prison later this year, who wanted to return to pray in its congregation.
Andrew Josephs, 29, a member of Stanmore Synagogue in North-West London and a former teacher at Michael Sobell Sinai primary school, was convicted in February last year of sexually abusing two barmitzvah boys he was teaching. He was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court to two years and nine months in prison, and is due to be released in July.
In a letter to the synagogue's members, warden Dr Nigel de Kare Silver said the decision to ban Josephs had been reached only after a lengthy consultation exercise carried out by a specially appointed committee.
Dr de Kare Silver said: "Following this consultation exercise and further discussions with the board of management and the United Synagogue, the special committee recommended that the honorary executive and ministers exclude the individual concerned from synagogue premises and activities, and that such exclusion should be indefinite."
He said the recommendation had been accepted by all parties and that Josephs and his family had been told.
The letter also made it clear that "any other individual who has been charged or convicted of similar offences... unless individual circumstances require otherwise, that individual will also be excluded from the synagogue premises".
The special committee, which included synagogue ministers Rabbis Mendel Lew and Andrew Shaw, consulted police, probation services, child agencies and the United Synagogue.
Initially the synagogue asked the US if it had a child-protection policy and was told it did not, so it drew up its own. A draft document from the US, setting out its own guidelines on child protection, was published last week at the same time as Stanmore's decision went out to its members.
On the advice of the US trustees, Stanmore sent a questionnaire to synagogue members with children, asking whether Josephs should have either limited, or no access, at the synagogue.
Stanmore's decision drew praise from the US and also the Reform and Liberal movements, which are drawing up their own joint child-protection document.
The US document covers all aspects of child protection but falls short of recommending the total banning of convicted sex offenders from its synagogues.
It states: "Children should be protected from those who have committed offences against children, even after any sentence of the court has expired."
It adds that synagogues should be notified in advance of sex offenders' attendance, that they should be restricted to events where children are not present, and that they must be accompanied at all times, even to the bathroom.
A US spokesman said: "The US is extremely respectful of the very difficult decision that Stanmore's honorary officers reached, taking into account all the relevant circumstances.
"The US document is advisory: it cannot be prescriptive because there are a number of communities which have particular circumstances about which they will need to react."
Debi Penhey, communities consultant at Leo Baeck College, who is overseeing a child-protection policy for the progressive movements, commented: "I am not surprised the synagogue has banned him. I think one would have to, because the majority of people in a synagogue would be so scared and nervous. The welfare of the community as a whole has to come first."
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