A CENTRE offering cheerleading and dance classes to children has closed after one of the directors was convicted of possessing child abuse images.
Team Katalyst said it had voluntarily decided to close both its centres at Peel Parade, Barnsley, and in Rotherham.
Earlier this month, Richard Codd, a former director, was sentenced to a 36-month community order at Sheffield Crown Court.
Codd, 32, of The Crescent West, Sunnyside, Rotherham, admitted three counts of possessing indecent images of children and one count of extreme pornography.
He was sentenced to a 36-month community order, given a sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders’ register for five years. He will also attend mandatory rehabilitation training.
The company issued a statement saying it took the safeguarding issues very seriously, and it was ‘devastated’ by what had happened.
But it was announced on the Team Katalyst Facebook page that both centres were closed.
The statement read: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, both our centres are now closed.
“We have take the decision to voluntarily close out sites in both Rotherham and Barnsley as we work with Rotherham Council’s Safeguarding Board.
“Again, Team Katalyst holds the safeguarding of all out users at the highest importance.
“The news of serious safeguarding concerns was a huge shock. Team Katalyst has fully co-operated with the investigations and will continue to do so.
“We are devastated by what has happened and are deeply sorry.
“It is hoped that what has happened will, in the long term, not damage such a valuable asset to the community.”
