Click to view image: '5e057f2cd815-1.jpg' David Wadsworth, former vice-principal at John Rennie High School, has been declared a long-term offender after his conviction for producing, possessing and distributing child pornography.

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The former vice-principal of John Rennie High School in Pointe Claire, Que., was sentenced on Thursday to nearly 40 months in prison, less time served for producing, possessing and distributing child pornography.

Police had found more than 700 files on two home computers, mostly photos of small children.

David Wadsworth had no reaction as Quebec Court Judge Suzanne Coupal called him a pedophile who is at high risk to reoffend.

His lawyer said Wadsworth knows he needs help for his sexual deviance and that's why he wanted the court to declare him a long-term offender.

Among the crimes the West Island man pleaded guilty to include a charge of writing a pornographic letter while he was in jail, awaiting sentencing on his other charges.

Wadsworth was declared a long-term offender, so the national parole board will supervise him for 10 years after he's released. Wadsworth was ordered to supply a sample of his genetic material for the national DNA data bank, and he must also register on the national sex offender registry.
A history of offences

In 1999, it was discovered Wadsworth had been surfing for child pornography on the internet and had child pornography files on a school computer. He was convicted of possession and distribution of child pornography and served time in jail.

While in prison, police discovered he had sexually assaulted several students between 1979 and 1986, at the elementary school he taught at before becoming vice-principal at John Rennie High School. He served a little over three years for those assaults and for the other charges of child pornography.

About four years after his release, new charges of child pornography possession were laid against Wadsworth for which he was convicted and received a 40-month sentence handed down on Thursday.

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