Full Breakdown
Former Supply Teacher Sentenced for Upskirting and AI-Generated Child Images
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Core Offences and Conviction
Abusali Rahman, a 37-year-old former supply teacher who worked at roughly 25 schools across Bolton, Bury and Salford, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at Bolton Crown Court on October 15. He pleaded guilty to 21 offences on May 28, including 12 counts of taking indecent photographs of children, four counts of publishing obscene material, three counts of possessing indecent images, one count of distributing such images and one count of voyeurism. The offences involved upskirting photographs taken covertly in classrooms and corridors, as well as AI-generated deep-fake images created from pupils’ social-media profiles.
Background & Context
Rahman qualified as a teacher in July 2023 after studying at Manchester Metropolitan University and began supply work the following September. The investigation was triggered when a parent, scrolling through X, recognised her daughter in a post that combined the child’s photograph with graphic sexual content. The report led police to trace the account to Rahman.
Data & Statistics
- Victims: 15 girls aged 13-16; 12 identified, three unidentified.
- Schools involved: Offences confirmed at seven secondary schools; Rahman taught at about 25 schools in total.
- Image categories: 226 category C images (including upskirt shots), 25 category B indecent images, and 12 category A images downloaded from the internet.
- AI-generated content: Hundreds of deep-fake images super-imposed pupils’ faces onto adult bodies in bikinis or PVC outfits and were posted on the X account.
All figures are attributed to Detective Constable Lisa McGaffin of Bolton CID, who led the investigation.
Official Statements & Responses
McGaffin noted that no prior concerns had been raised about Rahman’s behaviour before the investigation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “DC McGaffin said: "From the meetings we've had with the headteachers and the local authority, I think it's taken everyone a little while to sort of get their head around that this could have happened within a school setting, and there was no information to suggest that he would ever take part in anything like this.” — DC McGaffin
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While Rahman pleaded guilty to the 21 offences listed above, he was arrested again in 2026 for allegedly breaching bail by contacting a pupil. He was charged with a separate stalking offence and remanded in custody; the outcome of that charge remains pending.
What’s Next
In addition to the six-year prison term, Rahman was placed on the sex-offenders register and issued a 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order that bars him from any future work in schools. The case has prompted local authorities to review safeguarding protocols and highlighted the challenges police face in policing the misuse of artificial-intelligence tools.