A PRIMARY school accidentally sent explicit content in an email to parents – while warning them of a “safeguarding risk”.
The Hordle C of E Primary School, in Hampshire, had contacted parents to highlight an “inappropriate” link in the children’s books ‘Spy Dog’.
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The series has been pulled from school library shelves across the UK this week after a web address printed in the back was found to link to explicit content.
At the back of each book in Andrew Cope’s series aimed at children aged 7 – 12 there is a link to a website to “discover even more about Lara, Spud, and Star”.
The URL used to direct kids to bonus content but the link has since been hijacked over by someone who has posted pornographic videos featuring children’s characters.
According to publisher Puffin, while the domain had initially belonged to author Cope, it had subsequently been acquired by a third party.
The school sent an email to warn them off the “safeguarding risk” but accidentally included the link itself – which sent parents to a porn website.
Two hours later, the school sent a second email warning parents not to click the link and apologising for the mistake.
The email read: “Further to the email sent out earlier today, we are sorry to report that the details of the safeguarding concern regarding Spy Dog have created an automatic weblink to the site mentioned.
“Please DO NOT click on the link and delete the original email received.
“Please accept our sincere apologies for the issue.”
A parent, who wanted to be anonymous, said he and his wife found it “hilarious” and burst into tears with laughter when they realised the school sent a porn link.
He said: “We often receive emails from the school, and to be honest, I don’t read them all.
“However, this one was about safeguarding, so I felt it was important to read. I’m glad I did.
“Firstly, I was shocked and saddened to read that a children’s book has a link in it for a porn site. Then I burst out laughing when I realised the link was highlighted blue to show that we can click on it.
“I didn’t click on it as I was concerned it my have a virus.
“When I showed my wife later, we again laughed together and thought how kind that the Church of England not only cares about our spiritual health but also our sexual health.
“The email was retracted two hours later, but the humour remains.”
The Spy Dogs series has been pulled off the shelves by publishers after they were made aware of the link published in the book.
In a statement given to LBC, publisher, Puffin, and author Andrew Cope, said: “In some editions of the Spy Dog, Spy Cat and Spy Pups series, there is a reference to the author, Andrew Cope’s, former website for the series, which was owned and managed by him.
“We understand an unconnected third party has very recently taken control of the domain name and is using it to display a different website with inappropriate adult content.
“This website is not associated with Puffin or Andrew Cope. We are asking people not to visit the website and ensure that children do not visit it either.”
Hordle C of E Primary School declined to comment.
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