Joseph Haffenden

Joseph Haffenden, 32, of Lindfield, was sentenced on 3 September 2026 to 51 months in prison following his guilty pleas to six counts of sexual assault by touching and six counts of false imprisonment. The offences occurred between January and February 2026.

Investigations by Sussex Police revealed that Haffenden had subjected two boys to sexual assault by touching, involving the use of a feather and an electric toothbrush under the guise of a game. Searches of his property later uncovered evidence of a sexual interest in children. Following his arrest, Haffenden was suspended and subsequently dismissed from his position as a primary school teacher.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Haffenden was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) intended to mitigate the risk of further offending.