Neil Beckett, a former welfare officer at Lagan College, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexually assaulting teenage girls over an eight-year period. Convicted on 16 counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual grooming, Beckett abused his position of trust, targeting vulnerable students. The court highlighted the grooming aspects of Beckett’s actions and the ongoing nature of the offenses. Victims, including pupils from Lagan College, expressed feelings of betrayal and a call for better safeguarding measures in schools.