ALL Hallows School has reassured parents it has “no reason to believe” any students were targeted by its disgraced former RE teacher Robert Browne.

Browne, who taught at All Hallows for around four years before leaving in July last year, was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court this month after admitting downloading more than a thousand indecent pictures of children.

The 45 year old was sentenced to 12 months behind bars, but suspended for two years after the judge Anil Murray praised Browne behaviour since his arrest in October 2016.

In a letter to parents, All Hallows headteacher Paul Doyle said he shared their shock at hearing of Browne’s conviction and addressed speculation around Browne’s reason for leaving All Hallows.

He told parents: “All our teachers are subject to the required DBS police checks and Mr Browne passed these when he was appointed. He came with very strong references and was subject to all of our safeguarding induction procedures which have been classified by Ofsted and the Surrey Safeguarding Children Board as outstanding.

“During his time with us no safeguarding concerns were ever raised. He left All Hallows because he wanted to buy a property and was struggling to afford to do so in our area. We were shocked to hear of the convictions against him.

“I wish to reassure you that we have no reason to believe that any of our students were compromised in any way by Mr Browne’s actions outside school. [Deputy headteacher] Mr Laker has taken the precaution this week of contacting Merseyside police to be sure that there is nothing further we should do to safeguard our students.”